Several unions have announced a full-day warning strike on Friday, May 2, in protest the Disciplinary Regulation. A rally will also be held that day, supported by nearly 100 organizations and several political parties.
The strike and rally plans were unveiled during a press conference at the Cyprus Turkish Secondary Education Teachers’ Union (KTOEÖS) headquarters in Nicosia, with representatives from political parties, unions, and civil society organizations in attendance.
KTOEÖS President Selma Eylem, reading a joint statement, emphasized that resistance against the Disciplinary Regulation has been ongoing for over a month, both in schools and in the streets. She praised the teachers at İrsen Küçük Middle School and Bekirpaşa High School for their continued determination, noting that teachers are standing firm against what she described as attempts to impose unwanted changes in education.
Eylem thanked teachers for their perseverance in the face of pressure, threats, and budget cuts, and expressed gratitude to the broader public for their support. She reminded that public opposition to the Disciplinary Regulation extends beyond teachers, with tens of thousands having joined a mass protest on April 8.
Despite widespread opposition and expert warnings from child and adolescent psychiatry specialists and psychologists, Eylem said the government has ignored calls to withdraw the regulation.
Planned Strike and Rally Details
On May 2, unions will strike throughout the day. At 18:30, participants will gather in front of the old Peyak building and march to Kuğulu Park, where the rally will be held.
Eylem stressed that the rally would send a clear message against those who ” ignore, insult, and threaten” Turkish Cypriots, affirming that the struggle will continue until the Disciplinary Regulation is repealed.
Public Called to Join the Protest
Calling on the public to participate, Eylem urged citizens to “take to the streets and demand secular education and a clean, secular society.” She also announced that an account has been opened at ÖYAK Bank to support teachers and others continuing the fight.
Additionally, the signature campaign demanding the withdrawal of the regulation remains active, with collection centers set up at the two teachers’ unions and other organization buildings. The campaign will continue during protest actions leading up to and including May 2.
The organizations and political parties that undertook and supported the strike and rally organization are as follows:
“Arif Hasan Tahsin Vakfı, As-Sen, Bağımsızlık Yolu, Baraka Kültür Merkezi, Barış Derneği, Barış ve Demokrasi İnsiyatifi, Basın-Sen, Bass, Bay-Sen, BES, Biyologlar Derneği, BKP, Büro-İş, CTP, Çağ-Sen, DAÜ-BİR-SEN, DAÜ-SEN, DAÜ-PER-SEN, Dev-İş, El-Sen, Gıda-Sen, Girne Düşünce Derneği, Güç-Sen, HAKSEN, Halkın Partisi, Hava Trafik Kontrolörleri Sendikası, Hayvan Üreticileri ve Yetiştiricileri Birliği, Hür-İş, Kadın Eğitimi Kolektifi, Kamu-Sen, Kamu-İş, KES, Kıbrıs Edebiyat Derneği, Kıbrıs Sanatçı ve Yazarlar Birliği, Kıbrıs Türk Atatürkçü Gençlik Hareketi, Kıbrıs Türk Barolar Birliği, Kıbrıs Türk Çiftçiler Birliği, Kıbrıs Türk Eczacılar Birliği, Kıbrıs Türk Diş Tabipleri Odası, Tıp-İş, Kıbrıs Türk Psikolojik Danışmanlık ve Rehberlik Derneği, Kıbrıs Türk Tabipleri Birliği, Kıbrıs Türk Tabipleri Odası, Kıbrıs Türk Orta Eğitim Öğretmenler Sendikası, Kıbrıs Türk Öğretmenler Sendikası, KİEF, Koop-Sen, KTAMS, KTMMOB, Lefke Çevre ve Tanıtma Derneği, Maliye-Sen, Sol Hareket, TDP, Tel-Sen, TES, Türk-Sen, Vergi-Sen, YKP, Yeşil Barış Hareketi. Has-Der, Seç-Der, GASAD, GÜSAD, Tav-Der, Kay-Der, Ak-Der, GÖÇTAŞ, Dördüncü Duvar Kültür ve Düşünce Derneği, Alayköy Folklor Derneği, TUFAD, Lefke Turizm Derneği, Kütüphaneciler Derneği, Yeni Erenköy Kültür Sanat Derneği, Mehmetçik Kültür Dayanışma Derneği, Gazimağusa Halk Dansları Derneği, Gençlik Merkezi Birliği, HADSAM, İGEM, AKSAD, FOGEM, FOLKDER, Çağdaş Müzik Derneği, KIBHAD, Dikmen Gençlik Merkezi, DESDER, KSD, Kıbrıs Polifonik Korolar Derneği, Kıbrıslı Türk İnsan Hakları Platformu, Kıbrıs Türk Gazeteciler Birliği, Kıbrıs Alevi Kültür Vakfı, KKTC Alevi Kültür Merkezi, Uluslararası Fikret Demirağ Şiir Festivali Organizasyon Komitesi, Bu Vatan Kıbrıslıların Platformu, Güney Kıbrıs’ta Çalışanlar Derneği, Yurtsever Kıbrıslılar Hareketi.”
