President Ersin Tatar warned on Monday that Turkish Cypriots would be the next target of racist attacks in South Cyprus as soon as the Turkish military withdrew from the island in the event of a solution.

Tatar who evaluated the racist attacks targeting foreigners in Limassol, criticized the stance of the Greek Cypriot Administration towards these attacks, stating that the attackers should be brought to justice.

He also mentioned that these attacks are a manifestation of the increasing xenophobia in some European countries.

Speaking to the Anadolu News Agency on Monday President Ersin Tatar said that the latest incidents against migrants in South Cyprus showed that Turkish Cypriots will be the target of Greek Cypriot racist attacks as soon as the Turkish forces withdrew from the island.

Pointing out that attacks on mosques and foreigners have been on the rise on the Greek Cypriot side in recent days, Tatar expressed the view that the recent events on the Greek Cypriot side reflected the ugly attacks on the Quran in some European Union member countries and the rising xenophobia.

He drew attention to the fact that in the attacks on foreigners in Limassol, poor workers who have obtained work permits from thousands of kilometres away are being targeted.

Tatar also mentioned that during a meeting with the state’s top officials, the Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodulides admitted their helplessness regarding the racist attacks.

“The banners and slogans in Limassol “Cyprus is Greek” and “Cyprus is Hellenic” reflects the mentality of the Greek-Greek Cypriot duo,” he said, adding that there was no doubt that as soon as the Turkish military withdrew from the island, the target of racist attacks would be the Turkish Cypriots.

“This is the conclusion we draw from the events in Limassol. Türkiye’s guarantees and the presence of Turkish troops here are of vital importance to us. Therefore, the Limassol attacks are on our agenda,” he added.

President Tatar drew attention to the fact that the attacks on both places of worship and foreigners on the Greek Cypriot side have been tolerated by the Greek Cypriot administration until now, and the perpetrators have not been brought to justice.

“Will the perpetrators of the latest attack be prosecuted? I highly doubt it, but we will see,” he said.

Tatar also highlighted that the names of EOKA supporters, as well as members of far-right and racist groups like the National People’s Front, were mentioned in the attacks on foreigners in Limassol.

He added that the Greek Cypriot administration should bring those involved in racist attacks to justice.