Nicosia, Cyprus. Turkish Cypriots from across the political spectrum reacted with indignation over the weekend after an Ankara court annulled the results of Turkey’s main opposition CHP’s 2023 party congress and removed party leader Ozgur Ozel from office.
Criticism from former Turkish Cypriot leader
Former Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci issued a sharp criticism of the court’s decision on Sunday, saying that democracy in Turkey had already been weakened under a one-man regime and was now “about to take its last breath.”
He said Turkish Cypriots did not have the power to influence developments in Turkey, but added that they had “human dignity and a democratic culture” and could not remain silent.
Akinci also said that as long as the current status quo in Cyprus exists, the warning that “if Turkey catches a cold, we in Cyprus will catch pneumonia” remains valid.
He said that if Turkish democracy fully surrendered to the one-man regime, the impact would also be felt in Cyprus, adding that the more entrenched the antidemocratic system becomes in Turkey, the more Turkish Cypriots would be affected.
Akinci said the CHP’s “perspective on Cyprus” and “past attitudes” could be criticised, but added that what was happening in Turkey was a democracy issue that went far beyond the CHP.
He said it was “a matter of existing or not existing.”
Denktash and CTP comments
Serdar Denktash, son of the late Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, also criticised the ruling, saying that what was happening in Turkey was not in line with law, justice or democracy.
He said seizing power in this way brought shame on Ataturk’s republic in the eyes of the world.
Turkish Cypriot opposition CTP leader Sila Usar Incirli said she had held a telephone conversation with Ozel.
The CTP said the call focused on the importance of continuing the struggle for democracy, the rule of law, human rights and social justice on the basis of shared values.
