Famagusta, Cyprus. The Turkish Cypriot supreme court on Thursday ruled legal plans to build a theology college in Famagusta after the matter was referred to the judiciary by Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman in November. Erhurman said he will now sign off on the plans.
Court decision and next steps
The plans had been passed by the Turkish Cypriot legislature but were suspended after Erhurman raised the question of whether they were compatible with the ‘TRNC’s’ constitution. Following the court ruling, Erhurman announced he will proceed with approving them.
The planned institution would be the second theology college, after the Hala Sultan theology college in the Nicosia suburb of Mia Milia, which opened in 2019.
Background and legislative timeline
The proposal was ratified by the north’s cabinet in October 2023 after being included in that year’s financial protocol between the Republic of Turkey in the north. It was not brought onto the legislature’s agenda in the intervening two years.
Reactions from teachers’ trade unions
The plans prompted protests from teachers’ trade unions. Cyprus Turkish secondary education teachers’ trade union (Ktoeos) leader Selma Eylem referred to the plans during a gathering of teachers outside the Nicosia Turkish high school (LTL) in October, saying, “They are working to open a new theology college in the Famagusta area. This country does not need theology schools, it needs schools which liberate children’s minds. The goal is social engineering, and they are trying to achieve this through education.”
At the same gathering, Ktoeos secretary-general Tahir Gokcebel said the planned theology college constitutes “a step taken to ensure that the AKP’s medieval mentality takes root in this country”, referring to Turkey’s ruling AK Party. He also criticised the north’s ‘education minister’ Nazim Cavusoglu, saying that “Cavusoglu’s treason against this society must be argued against,” and added, “The education minister is taking the piss out of this society. A statement must be made explaining whose minister exactly Cavusoglu is.”
Broader debate on religion in education
Religion in education was a prominent issue throughout last year in the north, with the ruling coalition spending the spring attempting to legalise the wearing of headscarves by girls at public schools.
How do you think the court ruling will affect the wider debate on religion in education in the north?