Hijab banned in Northern Cyprus

Another controversial issue regarding school uniforms has emerged in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. On March 14, 2025, the Council of Ministers adopted a controversial decision that is being viewed as a restriction on the religious freedom of schoolgirls.

Traditional hijabs are officially banned. Instead, the alternative is to wear a hat or other type of plain, solid-colored head covering without any religious symbols.

It all started with an incident at a secondary school in Lefkosia. After a schoolgirl was banned from attending class wearing a hijab, the incident sparked a family feud and then sparked nationwide debates about secularism and religious rights.

Education Minister Nazim Cavusoglu called the decision a "historic step," but the opposition sees it as an attempt to artificially restrict freedoms.