The struggle waged by the Turkish Cypriot people in their fight for existence and the martyrs that fell during the years of struggle will never be forgotten.

Commemoration ceremonies will be held between the 21st and 25th of December in honour of National Struggle and Martyrs Week.

Commemoration ceremonies were held in the capital Lefkoşa and all districts in the TRNC in line with the December 21-25 National Struggle and Martyrs Week.

The commemoration events started with a speech by Captain İbrahim Kutay from the Security Forces Command at 8.00 am on Bayrak Radio Television (BRT).

In his speech, Kutay emphasized the importance of passing on what happened in the past to the future generations and said, “We, as those who have sworn to sacrifice our lives for our republic and our flag; will never give up neither our land, nor our freedom, nor our flag.”

He said that in order to protect the presence of the Turkish Cypriots on the island until 1974, the Turkish Cypriot Mujahids displayed an exemplary resistance and solidarity despite all the impossibilities, poverty and hundreds of martyrs.

“The Turkish Cypriot people heroically resisted against oppression for 11 years, they resisted against the persecution and massacres of the Greek Cypriots, disregarding their lives, and on July 20, 1974, the Turkish fighters the Mehmetçiks and Turkish Cypriot fighters the Mujahids fought shoulder to shoulder and experienced the joy of achieving freedom with the Peace Operation” said Kutay.

Meanwhile two commemoration ceremonies were held in the capital Lefkoşa.

The first ceremony was held in front of the Lefkoşa Martyrs’ Monument.

A Martyrs Commemoration Program was also realised at the Lefkoşa Atatürk Cultural Centre.

Commemorative ceremonies will also be held in all districts in line with the National Struggle and Martyrs Week.

Also, in addition to the prayers by religious officials at the martyrs’ cemeteries, prayers were also read for the martyrs at all Central Mosques throughout the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).

Meanwhile the Türkeli Martyrs will be commemorated at Tekke Bahçe on Friday and the Kumsal Martyrs will be commemorated at the Barbarism Museum on Sunday, December 24.

The Küçük Kaymaklı Martyrs will be commemorated with a ceremony to be held in front of the Küçük Kaymaklı Martyrs Monument on Monday.

Following the ceremony at the Küçük Kaymaklı Martyrs’ Monument, a commemoration ceremony will be held for martyred teacher Hüseyin Ruso at the Küçük Kaymaklı Martyrdom.