Çavuşoğlu: I Told Erhan Arıklı “Don’t Do It”

Speaking on the 'Sabah Postası' program on Kıbrıs Postası TV, Çavuşoğlu addressed the recent controversies surrounding changes to the Disciplinary Regulation and the public backlash.

He noted that while social media should foster dialogue, it has become a platform for insults: “When did people earn the right to disrespect others just because they're behind a keyboard?”

On the regulation change, Çavuşoğlu explained that some students expressed a desire to wear headscarves to school and had been previously persuaded not to. This year, however, students at İrsen Küçük Middle School and Bekirpaşa High School resisted. One student wore what was described as a head covering for 17 days and was barred from class for four days.

He said the family contacted him, citing their daughter’s constitutional right to wear the headscarf. The issue was discussed with Prime Minister Ünal Üstel and brought to the Council of Ministers, which then decided to meet the family. The regulation was prepared in anticipation of potential disagreements.

Çavuşoğlu also stated that Arıklı had engaged with the family and advised alternatives such as changing schools or wearing a wig—options the student rejected.

“We anticipated the situation might escalate, but we could not deny her constitutional rights,” he said. “I invited unions for dialogue, hoping to resolve the issue calmly. But when they saw government officials present, they rejected discussion and insisted the regulation be withdrawn. We kept our word and did so.”

Criticizing student involvement in protests and campaigns such as "Babucunu gey da gel," Çavuşoğlu questioned the appropriateness of unions encouraging students to participate. “Is it pedagogically acceptable for unions to involve students in protests?” he asked, calling for emergency meetings to address the issue.

He emphasized that the regulation does not mandate headscarves for all but allows it at the high school level, leaving middle school decisions to administrators. “A headscarf is not a threat to secularism if it is worn by choice,” he added.

Clarifying his own stance, Çavuşoğlu said he does not encourage students to wear headscarves, but respects their rights. “Atatürk’s philosophy is part of our national identity, and no headscarf can undermine that,” he said.

Commenting on Arıklı’s “Respect for the Motherland” rally, Çavuşoğlu criticized actions he found inappropriate, such as the refusal to recite the call to prayer. “I told Arıklı not to go through with it. Everyone loves Ayşe in this country. Those who don’t should reflect on themselves,” he said.

He condemned slogans like “Go home,” calling them dangerous and divisive. “Sending people to South Cyprus over political disagreement is ugly. Our goal is to safeguard constitutional rights.”

Çavuşoğlu also responded to First Lady Sibel Tatar’s support of the unions’ protest, saying he would have preferred if she had sought information from him before making her statement. “It would have been better if she had contributed constructively,” he said.