President Ersin Tatar’s Special Advisor for International Relations and Diplomacy Prof. Dr Hüseyin Işıksal has called on the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to accept the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) as a full member.
Işıksal was speaking at a conference organised by the OIC Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) and the government of Türkiye in Istanbul this week.
“OIC member states should know that it’s not only our cause and you shouldn’t leave us alone in this holy battle. Our struggle is against those who try to erase ‘Muslimness’ and ‘Turkishness’ from our island. Why not start with full membership of the TRNC in the OIC?” Isiksal said during a panel discussion on ‘The Situation of Muslims in Europe’.
“Unless we are united, back each other, leave aside our own political interests and act as one, this problem of anti-Muslim discrimination will stay with us. We need to produce our own legal arguments,” he added.
In contrast to the Muslims of Europe, Işıksal said that the Turkish Cypriot people refused to be called a minority.
“We are equal tenants of the island, yet we are faced with embargoes. Till today, there are no direct flights to the TRNC. These international embargos must come to an end,” he added.
He pointed out that no one would be speaking about the Cyprus Problem today had it not been for Turkiye’s timely intervention in 1974.
“Since 1963, we have been continuing our sovereignty, not accepting Greek rule over Turkish Cypriots.”
The Cyprus conflict is “a complex political issue” as approached by , yet “it ultimately revolves around one fundamental fact: the existence of two distinct people on the Island, namely the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots; and their relationship.”
Professor Işıksal reminded that the TRNC fulfils all the requirements of a free state and that they have ambassadors in more than 20 countries sent by “a democratic government that respects human rights”.
Işıksal demanded action from the international community, especially full support from the 57 Muslim nations that are members of the OIC, to put an end to the embargos, isolation and restrictions on international trade with the TRNC.
“My question to you is, ‘Would it be better or worse if the island is solely ruled by the Greek Cypriot Orthodox church?’ I want you to think about this in your treatment of the TRNC,” Isiksal added.
He suggested starting direct trade and flights, besides tourism and student exchanges, between Muslim nations and the TRNC.
“The holy and honourable struggle waged by Turkish Cypriots in Cyprus is one that is opposed to the existence of Islam and Turks. The Muslim world should not leave us alone in this struggle,” Hüseyin Işıksal added.