TRNC Authorities Furious Over Remarks by Turkish Presidential Advisor

Authorities in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) have expressed outrage over comments made by Oktay Saral, a senior advisor to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Saral harshly criticized TRNC Prime Minister Ünal Üstel for his stance on the disciplinary regulations concerning the wearing of headscarves in schools. In his remarks, Saral appeared to align himself with the views of Greek Cypriots.

The controversy began when Saral posted a video on X (formerly Twitter) showing Üstel’s recent speech in the TRNC Parliament. In his address, the prime minister referenced Imam İbrahim Damar, who serves at a mosque near Nicosia. The imam had stirred public anger after calling teachers who oppose the wearing of headscarves “infidels” and claiming he would refuse to conduct funeral prayers for anyone who opposed headscarves.

Saral responded with a scathing post, referring to Üstel as a “boşbakan”—a play on the Turkish word for prime minister (başbakan) and “boş,” meaning “empty” or “worthless.” He went on to write:

• “The empty prime minister of the TRNC wasn’t speaking sensibly—he was just babbling. Should an imam be against the headscarf? What a disgrace. We failed to rescue Cyprus from Greek Cypriot influence.”

His comments sparked a wave of condemnation in Northern Cyprus. Politicians across the board—including MPs, ministers, and government officials—called the remarks disrespectful and unacceptable.

Prime Minister Üstel traveled to Ankara today for meetings with President Erdoğan and Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz. While the official agenda includes discussions on bilateral relations and ongoing cooperation projects, Saral’s controversial comments are expected to be a central topic.

According to Kıbrıs Postası, Üstel plans to address the issue directly during the meetings, viewing it as an attack on the dignity of the Turkish Cypriot people. Sources say the comments have caused concern not only in the TRNC but also within Turkey’s own government, which emphasizes that “brotherly ties between Turkey and the TRNC must be built on mutual respect.”

The backlash comes shortly after the TRNC Council of Ministers approved a new regulation on conduct and discipline in secondary schools. The policy, which includes provisions on headscarves for female students, came into effect after its publication in the Official Gazette.

The regulation had previously been introduced earlier this year but was withdrawn following public outcry and teacher union opposition. It remains a divisive issue in the community. Just last week, over 13,000 people and 40 organizations took to the streets of Nicosia in protest. Demonstrations continued this week, with unions lighting protest bonfires outside the parliament building.