A New Conflict? The Religious Dimension of the Rising Tension Between Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots.

Abstract: This thesis aims to investigate the reddediyoruzdemonstrations that took place in the Northern Cyprus in 2016. As Turkey seems to be moving towards a totalitarian Islamist regime, this research aims to study the relation between the Turkish Cypriot community and Turkey. It seems that the relations between the two parties have been tense since the intention of Turkey to open a coordination office in North Cyprus to control the youth, sports and cultural activities with a power over the Turkish Cypriot institutions. The research explores the religious dimension of the tension between the two parties. Results have shown that the main concern of the demonstrations have been the Islamist policies of Turkey on Turkish Cypriots along with granting Turkey an unrestricted power over certain Turkish Cypriot institutions.