1996: a year marked by bloodshed on the divided island of Cyprus. Two Turkish soldiers, both in the prime of their youth, found themselves in the line of fire. Piyade Er (Infantry Private) Allahverdi Kılıç was shot twelve times and killed by Greek Cypriot gunmen while fulfilling his duty in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), paying the ultimate price for his service. Another soldier, Piyade Er Burhan Cihangir, was shot four times and, by sheer fortune or fate, lived to tell the tale.

Their stories, however, barely registered a flicker on the radar of the international press. In stark contrast, the death of a Greek Cypriot provocateur who trespassed the UN buffer zone, flagrantly attempting to tear down the Turkish flag, became a global headline. The disparity in coverage is not only glaring but deeply troubling, exposing a pernicious bias that continues to marginalize the Turkish Cypriot community.

The Unseen Sacrifices: Turkish Soldiers Targeted and Forgotten

On August 14, 1996, Piyade Er Allahverdi Kılıç, a young soldier fulfilling his national service, was gunned down in cold blood while on sentry duty in the TRNC, struck twelve times by Greek Cypriot gunmen. This brutal act of aggression received no condemnation from the so-called guardians of international law and human rights. His name, like so many others, has faded into obscurity, a casualty not only of violence but of a global narrative that has chosen to erase his existence. "Our soldier was not merely a target; he was a young man with dreams, defending his homeland and his flag," declared a TRNC military spokesperson. "But to the world, his death was not worth mentioning."

In a second, chillingly similar attack, another Turkish soldier, Piyade Er Burhan Cihangir, was shot four times, his survival nothing short of a miracle. "Had these men been Greek Cypriot soldiers, we would have seen their faces on every front page," an official from the TRNC government remarked. "The international community would have been flooded with statements of outrage and calls for justice. Instead, there was nothing—just a cold, indifferent silence."

A Convenient Narrative: When a Lawbreaker Becomes a Martyr

Now consider the case of Solomos Solomou, the Greek Cypriot who, on August 11, 1996, decided to cross into the UN buffer zone near Deryneia and attempt to remove the Turkish Cypriot flag. His actions were a brazen violation of international norms and an unmistakable provocation. "He climbed up with clear intent to provoke," recalls a TRNC police officer who witnessed the scene. "He knew the risks, yet he chose to ignore them, and he paid the ultimate price for his recklessness."

Yet, rather than acknowledging his actions for what they were—a deliberate act of defiance—Western media outlets quickly fashioned him into a martyr. UN spokespersons issued statements that condemned the violence but glossed over the fact that Solomou had brazenly violated the ceasefire lines. As one Turkish Cypriot journalist lamented, “The world's sympathy flowed freely for a man who broke the rules, yet our soldiers who fell in defense of their nation received none. It’s hypocrisy of the highest order.”

The Hidden Bias: Why the Silence?

The international response to these tragic events reveals an uncomfortable truth. When a Greek Cypriot lawbreaker is shot, the world reacts with outrage, but when Turkish Cypriots are attacked and killed, there is silence. It’s a selective moral indignation that betrays a deeply rooted bias against the Turkish Cypriot community, who have been deprived of justice and recognition for far too long.

Where were the indignant headlines and urgent statements when Piyade Er Allahverdi Kılıç was murdered in cold blood? Where was the outcry when Piyade Er Burhan Cihangir, a young man barely out of his teens, was shot four times while defending his homeland? The international community’s silence is not just an oversight; it is a willful blindness to the suffering of Turkish Cypriots. 

The Media’s Role in Distorting Reality

The international media’s complicity in this bias cannot be ignored. Influenced by longstanding geopolitical alliances and prejudices, many Western outlets have perpetuated a narrative that paints Greek Cypriots as perpetual victims and Turkish Cypriots as aggressors. "When Turkish Cypriots die, the world turns away," remarked a TCE Turkish Cypriot activist. "When Greek Cypriots provoke violence, they are made heroes. The bias is not just palpable; it is appalling."

Such skewed narratives do more than distort the truth—they perpetuate injustice. By failing to acknowledge the legitimate grievances of the Turkish Cypriots, the media effectively legitimizes their continued marginalization. It is a gross dereliction of the principles of fair reporting and justice.

Equal Accountability and Recognition

It is time for the international community to confront this double standard head-on. It is time to demand equal attention and justice for Turkish Cypriots who have been victims of violence and aggression for decades. The world must recognize that peace cannot be achieved in Cyprus while one side’s suffering is ignored, and the other’s offenses are downplayed.

President of the TRNC, Ersin Tatar, has repeatedly called for a more balanced approach. "The rights and security needs of Turkish Cypriots cannot be overlooked," he declared in a recent statement. "We cannot accept a peace settlement built on our suffering and the denial of our legitimate rights."

Forced Coexistence: A Recipe for Disaster

The events of 1996 should serve as a stark warning to those who believe in forced coexistence. When one side continues to instigate violence and provoke the other, how can there be any hope for peace within a single state? The Greek Cypriot side’s ongoing provocations and aggression reveal a deep-seated animosity that cannot be simply wished away. 

“Living together under such conditions is akin to balancing on a knife’s edge,” a Turkish Cypriot politician warned. "One minor incident, like the provocation in 1996, could easily spark a conflict that would engulf the entire island." 

Conclusion: A Call to Action for True Peace

The Turkish Cypriots must raise their voices louder than ever, demanding fairness, justice, and recognition from the international community. We must call for an honest approach to the Cyprus issue, one that acknowledges the suffering of all parties and holds everyone accountable for their actions. 

The world must wake up to the reality that true peace cannot be achieved through forced coexistence. For Turkish Cypriots, peace means a two-state solution—one where our rights, our sovereignty, and our security are respected. The continued dream of a united Cyprus, under Greek dominance, is not a dream we share. It is a nightmare from which we have long sought to wake.

It is time for the world to listen to the Turkish Cypriots, to recognize their rightful place, and to act with fairness and integrity. Until then, Cyprus will remain a powder keg, waiting for the next spark to set it alight.

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References:

- TRNC Official Statement, August 14, 1996.
- UNFICYP Press Releases, August 1996.
- Eyewitness accounts from TRNC residents, August 1996.
- Ersin Tatar, Turkish Cypriot Politician, Interview, September 2024.
- Commemoration events for Allahverdi Kılıç, September 2022