Build schools and hospitals, not Mosques, group protests Erdogan visit to north Cyprus

A group protesting against the intending visit by Turkish President Recip Erdogan has called on authorities to build schools and hospitals and not Mosques.

The protest organized by the Turkish Cypriot teachers’ union KTOS was held in front of the TRNC Assembly building and the Turkish embassy in Lefkosa on Friday.

President Erdogan is scheduled to visit North Cyprus on Tuesday July, 10. 

Countering the demonstration were members of the TMT Fighters’ Association, the Turkish Armed Forces Veteran’s Association and the Nationalist Democracy Party (MDP) who gathered in front of the Turkish embassy.

Members of the KTOS executive were holding placards saying “First schools and hospitals and then mosques which are for political purposes”.

Issuing a written statement during the protest, KTOS, inter alia, condemned Erdogan’s intending visit to the TRNC and the inauguration ceremony for the Hala Sultan mosque which is scheduled to take place in Haspolat.

KTOS in a statement said;

The 33 million dollar mosque which was constructed in the northern part of our island, within the framework of Erdogan’s projects to build mosques in every neighbourhood with the aim of raising ‘religious and vindictive generations’ is the best example which proves the pressure put on the Turkish Cypriot community to adopt Sunni Islam.

Our priority is not spreading Sunni Islam but to grow and educate our children with a scientific, secular, democratic way and with conscience. Instead of spending vast amounts of money for religious purposes and for building mosques, it is necessary and better to build more schools and hospitals that will contribute to the prosperity of the people. (…). The 33 million dollars which were spend for the construction of this mosque, could be used for building not one but 33 schools and also not one but 3 hospitals like Famagusta Hospital. If inauguration ceremonies are going to take place in this country, it must be schools that should be inaugurated, hospitals and new roads”.

We are aware of the reactionary and unprogressive actions which are carried out by the AKP in the northern part of the island. We will continue our struggle in all fields against the efforts exerted to control and administrate this community, the statement concluded.

The paper adds that the United Cyprus Party and several other trade unions in North Cyprus supported KTOS’ protest, which ended with no incidents.

Yeni Duzen