The funeral of Mustafa Hüseyin, who was martyred 49 years ago, was laid to rest with a state ceremony in Bağlıköy on Wednesday.

The remains of Mustafa Hüseyin, who was martyred on July 24, 1974, in Doğruyol village, were discovered as a result of excavation works by the Missing Persons Committee at Tekke Bahçe Martyrs’ Cemetery.

Delivering a speech at the ceremony, President Ersin Tatar recalled the immense suffering, forced displacement and numerous sacrifices of martyrs among the Turkish Cypriots and highlighted the significant efforts of the Missing Persons Committee in finding the remains of many martyrs, especially those who sacrificed their lives before 1974.

Expressing empathy for the families living with the uncertainty about the fate of their loved ones, President Tatar stated that not knowing the fate of their relatives is the greatest pain for these families.

He offered condolences to the martyrs and patience to the grieving families.

President Tatar emphasized that thanks to the sacrifices and pain of these martyrs, today the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) exists as an independent Turkish state in the Eastern Mediterranean, in peace, security, and tranquillity with the support of Türkiye.

Referring to Türkiye’s guarantees and the presence of the Turkish Armed Forces as red lines for the Turkish Cypriots, Tatar asserted that these red lines would never be abandoned, and the history of the TRNC would be upheld without forgetting the past.

Following the speeches, funeral prayers were held for martyr Mustafa Hüseyin.

The ceremony continued with a moment of silence and a salute, after which the Turkish and TRNC flags, draped over the martyr’s coffin, were handed over by President Ersin Tatar to the martyr’s brother, Raif Kalkan.

The ceremony concluded with the burial of the martyr Mustafa Hüseyin at the Bağlıköy Martyrs’ Cemetery.