Selma Eylem: “If It’s So Easy, Punish Us All”

The announcement came amid growing protests after authorities sought to open investigations into 34 teachers for participating in recent strikes. In response, the Cyprus Turkish Secondary Education Teachers’ Union (KTOEÖS) organized a nationwide strike across all schools today. At 11:00 a.m., teachers gathered in front of the union headquarters and marched with slogans such as “We will not bow to pressure.”

Eylem condemned the investigations and pressures on teachers in strong terms during her speech at the Ministry of Education. She stated:

“The teachers who represent the enlightened face of a society that refuses to yield to impositions are here. Minister, if it’s so easy, punish us all. Listen carefully: our children are learning in unfinished buildings, yet you seek to punish teachers. Our children go hungry, and you are focused on threatening teachers. Class sizes are overcrowded, students don’t speak Turkish, bullying is rampant, and yet you are busy deceiving society. Staffing remains insufficient, and still you resort to intimidation against teachers. Education and health are in chaos; whose government are you, whose minister are you?”

After the protest in front of the Ministry, demonstrators continued their march toward the Prime Ministry. In a statement issued yesterday, the union accused the government of acting in disregard of the Constitution and laws, asserting, “We will not bow to the fascist impositions, threats, and attacks on our education by the appointed UBP-DP-YDP government. We will not surrender.”