Erhurman: Turkish Cypriots Will Not Renounce Their Rights to Security, Equality and Sovereignty

Speaking at a commemoration ceremony held at the Atatürk Cultural Centre as part of the 21–25 December Struggle and Martyrs’ Week, Erhurman said no one can ignore the Turkish Cypriot people, erase their pain, or prevent their children from learning history accurately. He stressed that Turkish Cypriots would not give up their rights to security, equality and sovereignty.

The commemoration ceremony was organised at the Atatürk Cultural Centre within the framework of the Struggle and Martyrs’ Week events. Erhurman began his speech by honouring, with respect and gratitude, the martyrs and veterans who sacrificed themselves to protect the existence, dignity and freedom of Turkish Cypriots during the national struggle.

He said that almost every family has a martyr, or at least a missing person or a veteran, underlining the importance of passing history on to children and young people. Erhurman noted that it is not possible to shape the future without understanding history.

Referring to the period between 1878 and 1960, Erhurman said the conditions of the time forced Turkish Cypriots to struggle on one hand against colonial rule and on the other against another community driven by “national ideals.”

Erhurman said it was impossible to speak about 1960 without recalling Fatin Rüştü Zorlu, Hasan Polatkan and Adnan Menderes, who ensured that Turkish Cypriots took their place at the table as one of the island’s “two equal founding partners.” He added that the concept of “equality” as it existed at that time cannot be accepted under today’s conditions.

Stating that the debt owed to the martyrs can never truly be repaid, Erhurman said efforts must nonetheless be made, adding that this is linked to what kind of life is offered to those left behind.

He also pointed to the significance of how many people, including children and grandchildren of martyrs, left the island between the period of the 1975 Federated State and 2025 because it could not be made a homeland for them. Erhurman stressed that the Turkish Cypriot people must stand up for a new revival and said the necessary belief already exists.

“No one can ignore us, erase the suffering we have endured, or prevent our children from knowing their history correctly,” Erhurman said, reiterating that Turkish Cypriots will not renounce their rights to security, equality and sovereignty.

Erhurman concluded by commemorating all martyrs with respect, love, gratitude and longing.