Turkish-American Activist Ibrahim Kurtulus Writes to New York Assemblyman, Calls for Balanced Commemoration of Cyprus History

A Turkish-American community leader, Ibrahim Kurtulus, has written an open letter to New York Assemblyman Michael Tannousis, urging him and other civic leaders to approach public commemorations of Cyprus’s independence with historical accuracy and fairness.

In the detailed letter dated from Staten Island, Kurtulus expressed concern over what he described as “one-sided narratives” surrounding the so-called Independence Day of Cyprus commemorations. He argued that such events often ignore the legitimate security concerns and legal rights of Turkish Cypriots and the Republic of Türkiye, and fail to present the full historical context of the island’s troubled past.

Kurtulus emphasized that the 1960 constitutional settlement and the Treaty of Guarantee established the Republic of Cyprus as a bi-communal state co-founded by Turkish and Greek Cypriots, with Türkiye, Greece, and the United Kingdom as guarantor powers. He noted that the treaty granted these countries both the right and responsibility to intervene if the constitutional order was threatened.

He recalled the violent campaigns waged by extremist organizations such as EOKA, which he said targeted Turkish Cypriot civilians in the 1960s and 1970s.

“The coup of July 15, 1974, orchestrated in Athens and executed in Cyprus, was not merely a political crisis but an attempt to unite the island with Greece,” Kurtulus wrote, adding that this event placed Turkish Cypriots in grave danger.

Citing the massacres in Muratağa/Maratha, Sandallar/Santalaris, and Atlılar/Aloa, Kurtulus said the atrocities—condemned by international observers and the United Nations—remain a tragic reminder of the violence faced by Turkish Cypriots.

“To celebrate independence without acknowledging such suffering is deeply disrespectful to the memory of the victims,” he wrote.

He defended Türkiye’s 1974 military intervention, asserting that it was “a lawful and necessary exercise of guarantor rights under the Treaty of Guarantee,” citing the Athens Court of Appeals Decision No. 2658/79, which found that the illegality lay in the coup carried out by Greece.

Kurtulus further criticized the Greek Cypriot leadership for rejecting the 2004 Annan Plan, which had been overwhelmingly supported by Turkish Cypriots, saying the decision reflected “one-sided intransigence” that has hindered reconciliation.

The activist also condemned recent provocations, including reports of Greek F-16 flyovers and extremist slogans during military parades, which he said fuel mistrust and hostility. He called for commemorations that “acknowledge the complexity of Cyprus’s history, the suffering endured by all communities, and the legal framework that shaped the island’s legacy.”

Addressing Assemblyman Tannousis directly, Kurtulus challenged him to pursue his claims through international legal forums rather than through “selective public ceremonies and rhetoric.”

He urged public officials to ensure that historical commemorations reflect both Greek and Turkish Cypriot experiences.

“To celebrate without acknowledging the Turkish Cypriot experience is to perpetuate injustice and sow deeper division,” he stated. “Only with recognition of all victims can remembrance contribute to peace rather than grievance.”

The letter concluded with a call for accuracy, empathy, and fairness in public discourse on Cyprus, asserting that only a balanced remembrance can pave the way toward genuine peace and understanding between communities on the island.