Turkish Cypriots call for OIC support in ‘sacred battle’ for equal rights

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Appeal for solidarity with the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) during the International Seminar on Human Rights Violations Faced by Muslims.

Embattled Turkish Cypriots suffer from the same bigotry as Muslims in Europe and need the support of the global Muslim community in their long struggle for equality, a senior leader of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has said.

“The history of the RTCN is inequality par excellence. Because of their Muslim and Turkish identity, they suffer from the same Islamophobia and human rights abuses that Muslims in Europe face,” said Professor Huseyin Isiksal, Special Adviser to the TRNC President for international relations and diplomacy, at a conference organized by the Organization of Islamic Peace. Independent Permanent Commission for Human Rights (IPCHR) of the OIC and the government of Turkey in Istanbul this week.

“OIC Member States must know that this is not only our cause and you must not leave us alone in this sacred battle. Our fight is against those who try to erase the “Muslimness” and the “Turkicity” of our island. Why not start with full membership of the TRNC in the OIC? » Isiksal during a round table on “The situation of Muslims in Europe”.

“Unless we stand together, support each other, put aside our own political interests and act as one man, this problem of anti-Muslim discrimination will stay with us. We have to produce our own legal arguments,” he added.

The island of Cyprus has been ethnically divided since 1964, when Turkish Cypriots were forced to retreat to enclaves to escape attacks by suspected Greeks. A Greek Cypriot coup in 1974, aimed at Greek annexation of the island, led to Turkish military intervention in Cyprus where troops have remained ever since. RTNC was founded in 1983.

A series of diplomatic efforts by the United Nations over the past five decades have failed to break the stalemate on the island. The UN controls a buffer zone that separates the Turkish-speaking north and the Greek-speaking south.

Professor Isiksal compared the situation to the 1970s when Muslims migrated to Europe and took jobs that no European wanted. He said these poor working-class Muslims pose no threat until they seek human rights, apply for citizenship and seek leadership positions in European territory.

“European countries have created hierarchies with unspoken norms, selective treatment of human rights and inconsistent treatment of citizenship holders,” Professor Isiksal said.

“Then we saw Muslim places of worship, mosques and even the veil of Muslim women becoming a problem for Europe when Muslims spoke truth to power. Today we see far-right parties taking advantage of anti-Muslim rhetoric for their political gains,” he added.

Unlike Muslims in Europe, Isiksal said Turkish Cypriots refuse to be called a minority. “We are equal tenants of the island, but we face embargoes. Until today, there are no direct flights to TRNC. These international embargoes must end,” he added.

The rights of Turkish Cypriots

Earlier this month, the leader of the Turkish Cypriots rejected the offer of the Greek Cypriots to establish international air and sea links in exchange for territory.

Isiksal said the community is still paying the price for a war it did not fight.

“If the Turkish Muslims had lost the war of the 1970s started by the Greek Cypriots, we would not be talking about the Cyprus problem today. Since 1963 we have maintained our sovereignty, not accepting Greek domination over the Turkish Cypriots.

The Cyprus conflict is “a complex political issue” as approached by the Turkish Republic, but “it ultimately revolves around a fundamental fact: the existence of two distinct peoples on the island, namely the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots; and their relationship.

Professor Isiksal recalled that the TRNC fulfills all the conditions of a free state and that it has ambassadors in more than 20 countries sent by “a democratic government that respects human rights”.

However, the question of the international acceptance of the Greek Cypriot regime as the government of all Cyprus and the refusal to recognize the right of Turkish Cypriots to establish their own structure still arises.

The Greek Cypriot administration entered the EU in 2004, the same year the Greek Cypriots thwarted the UN’s Annan plan to end the long-running dispute. On the other hand, the Turkish side suffers from severe embargoes since promoted by a Greek Cypriot campaign.

Isiksal demanded action from the international community, especially the full support of the 57 OIC Muslim nations, to end embargoes, isolation and restrictions on international trade with the TRNC.

“My question for you is, ‘Would it be better or worse if the island was ruled only by Orthodox people?’ I want you to consider this in your treatment of TRNC,” Isiksal added.

He suggested starting direct trade and flights, in addition to tourism and student exchanges, between Muslim nations and the TRNC.

[NOTE: The article came from TRT World’s Eyes on Discrimination (EOD) Centre, which monitors and reports on offences, hate crimes and discrimination on the basis of gender, race, ethnicity, national origin and religion, or other related social categories. We promote and encourage respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion.]

Source: World TRT

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