Wednesday, August 3, 2016

Turkish Cypriots Protest Turkey's Rel. Imposition; Say Turkey Tries to Mold Islamic Norms on Them

Hundreds of Turkish Cypriots took to the streets today (August 3, 2016) to protest against what they say is Turkey's attempt to mold their secular culture into one that's more in tune with Islamic norms, according to the Washington Post website.

Some 1,500 mostly young people blew whistles and raised their hands in front of Parliament in the Turkish Cypriot part of the ethnically divided island's capital, Nicosia. They were decrying the creation of a "coordination committee" that will fund, oversee, and approve all youth sport and cultural activities.

Protesters from some 80 groups spanning the political spectrum charged that the committee's hidden agenda is to instill a more Islamic way of life by funding cultural and sporting projects that will include religious elements.

The committee is headed by a Turkish national who has been appointed by the Turkish government and is "all about religion" and instruction about the Quran, Ottoman customs, and the Arabic language, Turkish Cypriot lawmaker Zeki Celer said. "Turkish Cypriots are more secular, we believe how we chose to believe, and we don't need anyone to teach us how," Celer told The Associated Press.

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