TRNC School Discipline Case Postponed Again

The legal case surrounding the controversial school discipline regulations in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has once again been postponed. The next hearing is now set for June 12.

This marks the third hearing in the case brought before the Constitutional Court by the Turkish Cypriot Primary Teachers' Union (KTÖS) and the Secondary Education Teachers’ Union (KTOEÖS). The unions are challenging recent amendments made to the school Disciplinary Code.

At today’s session, the defense lawyer and the Deputy Chief Prosecutor submitted procedural instructions to the court regarding the documents they intend to present. A request for a temporary injunction was withdrawn after both parties agreed to proceed with discussing the substance of the case at the next hearing.

As a result, the court postponed the session until Thursday, June 12.

To recap, the TRNC Council of Ministers had approved new “Regulations on Rules and Discipline to Be Observed in and Outside of Secondary Schools and Educational Institutions.” The regulation came into effect following its publication in the Official Gazette. Among the provisions is a rule related to the wearing of headscarves by schoolgirls.

The regulation, adopted in mid-March, was later withdrawn for reconsideration due to widespread backlash. It sparked strong criticism from teachers’ unions and caused public uproar. In one incident, a school reportedly barred a student wearing a headscarf from attending class.

Mass protests took place in Nicosia, with participation from nearly 40 organizations and around 13,000 demonstrators. Protests have continued for several weeks.