Teacher strike in occupied Nicosia over graphic religious lesson

The Turkish Cypriot Secondary Education Teachers Union (KTOEÖS) held a work stoppage on October 13, 2026, at the Turkish Maarif College in occupied Nicosia. The industrial action was taken in protest against the return of a religious studies teacher to the classroom without an investigation into a recent incident involving seventh-grade students.

During a "Religious Culture and Ethics" lesson, the teacher allegedly provided graphic descriptions to 12-year-old students regarding the Islamic practices of washing, shrouding, and preparing a body for burial. This presentation caused significant psychological distress among the children and led to strong complaints from parents. Ahmet Karaogullari, the president of KTOEÖS, denounced the decision by the education authorities to allow the teacher to resume duties without initiating any administrative or disciplinary proceedings, calling the move unacceptable given the concerns regarding the pupils' psychological development.

The incident has sparked a broader debate in the occupied territories regarding appropriate educational content and pedagogical standards. As of now, the union continues to demand accountability, while the education authorities have not yet announced any formal disciplinary action or investigation into the teacher's conduct.