Maviş: Cabinet Successful at ‘Re-importing Criminals’

Speaking on Kıbrıs Postası TV’s program Sabah Postası, hosted by Gökhan Altıner, Maviş reviewed the ongoing legal battle against recent changes to the Disciplinary Regulation.

Maviş emphasized that their legal challenge at the Constitutional Court continues, arguing the changes violate the Constitution. He said, “The matter is now in the hands of the judiciary. We believe it is unconstitutional and are preparing accordingly.” However, he also expressed uncertainty about how the Cabinet would implement the court’s ruling, adding that the government has been effective at “re-importing criminals.”

He noted that the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) has also filed a separate Constitutional Court case related to the Disciplinary Regulation, meaning two lawsuits are now underway: one by civil society and another by CTP.

Maviş expressed hope that the Constitutional Court would issue a decision before schools reopen, stating, “Civil society and opposition have made their demands clear in public. It is politics that will correct this wrong.”

He also raised concerns about certain associations operating under the guise of religious orders, which he said risk interfering directly with education outside the public domain. Highlighting groups formed by sympathizers of Turkish religious orders and communities imported after 1990, Maviş warned against their attempts to create conflicts and gain privileges by influencing children.

Referring to the legal process, Maviş reminded that the next hearing in the Disciplinary Regulation case is set for Thursday, June 12, and that no postponements are expected. He expressed the wish that a final verdict would be delivered promptly to avoid repeating similar problems in September.

Addressing broader education issues from the 2024-2025 academic year, Maviş shared a personal note: his son Deniz continues to be taught in container classrooms at Karakol Primary School. He criticized the Education Ministry’s failure to improve facilities, saying, “Not even a single nail has been hammered in at the school. My son learned to read and write in those container classrooms. If this is the Education Ministry’s definition of success, I have nothing to say.”