Internationally renowned Turkish Cypriot legal expert, Chief Justice Mehmet Zeka Bey who also served with the European Court of Human Rights was remembered on Sunday on the 39th anniversary of his death.
A ceremony held in front of his bust in Balalan was attended by President Ersin Tatar, the General Secretary of the main opposition Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Asım Akansoy and the Mayor of Balalan Dr Fatma Çimen.
Delivering a speech at the ceremony, the Mayor of Balalan Dr Fatma Çimen reminded that the late Zeka Bey had made important contributions to international law through the rulings he had taken throughout his career.
Also speaking, the General Secretary of the main opposition Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Asım Akansoy said that Zeka Bey was an important figure in Turkish Cypriot history.
“Mehmet Zeka Bey was not only an expert of law but was also well known for his intellectual character that put justice before all,” he said.
President Ersin Tatar in his speech said that Zeka Bey had been a source of pride for his country, defending the rights and interests of the Turkish Cypriot people.
“There are things that Zeka Bey said against those who tried to implement the Akritas Plan, to attempt to annex the island to Greece and wipe out Turkish Cypriots from Cyprus. He was someone who strongly expressed the view that Turkish Cypriots are just as sovereign as Greek Cypriots on the island,” he said.
Tatar added that the late Zeka had also defended the view that a settlement with the Greek Cypriots can only be reached on the basis of equality and that Türkiye’s continued presence on the island was crucial for the existence of Turkish Cypriots.