Controversial School Dress Code Law Enforced in Northern Cyprus

The Council of Ministers of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has approved a new set of rules titled the "Regulations on the Discipline Rules to Be Observed in Secondary Schools and Educational Institutions, Both Within and Outside the School." This controversial disciplinary code includes provisions regarding the wearing of hijabs by female students.

The regulation came into effect after being published in the Official Gazette.

Under the new rules, the authority to determine the dress code for students in secondary schools has been fully transferred to the schools' administrations. Older students are now allowed to wear clothing that reflects their religious beliefs in addition to their school uniforms.

Finance Minister Özdemir Berova explained that the final document was adopted after a careful review of the Constitution, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (ratified by the Republic Assembly in 1996), and international standards regarding human and children's rights.

The new regulations will be based on the following principles:

• The school uniform should not hinder equal opportunities for students and must align with educational values.

• Any form of discrimination based on appearance or dress code is strictly prohibited within the educational environment.

At the secondary school level, students will be required to wear uniforms determined by the school administration. The uniforms will not include any logos or slogans that may carry ideological messages. The Ministry of National Education will set guidelines for colors, styles, sizes, and patterns, as well as ensure that the uniforms adhere to the dress code, through circulars issued by the ministry.

It’s important to note that earlier, TRNC authorities withdrew a previously published disciplinary code that allowed hijabs to be worn in schools. This proposal sparked heated debates among the public. The issue even caught the attention of the President, and teachers took to the streets in protest in support of secular education.

On the eve of the new law’s enforcement, a large demonstration took place in Nicosia, with around 40 organizations participating. The protest, organized by the Turkish Cypriot Teachers' Union (KTÖS) and the Turkish Cypriot Secondary School Teachers' Union (KTOEÖS), gathered participants at Citroen Işıkları in Dereboyu and marched to the Martyrs' Monument, holding banners and chanting slogans. Estimates suggest that up to 13,000 people took part in the protest.