A recent hearing by the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission in the U.S. Congress served as a scathing indictment of Turkey’s ongoing occupation of Cyprus, with speakers painting a grim picture of the current state of affairs.
The highly successful hearing, titled “Human Rights in Turkish-Occupied Cyprus: Erdogan’s Record and Its Implications for the Ankara NATO Summit,” shed light on the realities of the occupation and provided attendees with firsthand accounts of Turkish violations in northern Cyprus.
The session was led by Commission Chairman Representative Chris Smith, alongside Co-Chairman James McGovern and Representatives Gus Bilirakis, Brad Schneider, and Dina Titus.
Key witness testimonies
The hearing opened with a briefing to the Commission by the Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus to the United States, Evangelos Savva. This was followed by expert testimonies from Dr. Michael Rubin, Director of Policy Analysis at the Middle East Forum; Savvas Tsivicos, immediate past Supreme President of AHEPA and rotating Chairman of PSEKA (International Coordinating Committee – Justice for Cyprus); and Sinan Ciddi, Director of the Turkey Program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD).
Dr. Michael Rubin: “An illegal and ongoing annexation”
Dr. Rubin argued that the Turkish occupation of Cyprus constitutes a permanent, illegal annexation, comparing it to other unlawful territorial seizures globally. He emphasized that Ankara’s pretext of protecting Turkish Cypriots does not justify its continuous violations of international law and human rights.
According to Dr. Rubin, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan‘s policies have aggressively accelerated illegal colonization, militarization, and demographic and cultural alteration in the occupied territories. Furthermore, he noted that using the region for military purposes and illicit financial activities directly threatens regional security and U.S. strategic interests.
Dr. Rubin called on the U.S. to adopt a stricter policy toward Ankara by explicitly recognizing the occupation as illegal, strengthening ties with the Republic of Cyprus (ROC), and implementing concrete diplomatic, economic, and strategic measures to prevent the permanent normalization of the current status quo.
Savvas Tsivicos: “A continuous violation of human rights”
Delivering an emotionally charged testimony, Tsivicos stressed that the ongoing occupation is a persistent violation of international law. He highlighted critical issues such as displacement, the denial of property rights, the plight of missing persons, illegal settlement, and the systematic destruction of cultural and religious heritage.
Tsivicos pointed out that under Erdogan, Turkey has tightened its political, military, demographic, and religious grip on the occupied areas, aggressively pushing for a “two-state solution” in direct violation of UN Security Council resolutions.
He urged the U.S. and the international community to remain steadfast in supporting a solution within the established UN framework, underscoring that ending the Turkish occupation is a prerequisite for restoring human rights, ensuring the sovereignty of the ROC, and stabilizing the Eastern Mediterranean.
Sinan Ciddi: “Turkey as an authoritarian, revisionist state”
Ciddi posited that Erdogan has transformed Turkey into a revisionist, increasingly authoritarian state that uses its occupation of Cyprus to project military power, disrupt the regional balance, and undermine the interests of NATO, the U.S., and its allies.
He warned that the heavy militarization of the occupied north, Turkey’s vocal support for Hamas, its cozying relations with Russia and China, and its attempts to acquire advanced U.S. military technology—such as F-35 fighter jets and F110 engines—pose severe security risks.
Ciddi urged Congress to maintain sanctions against Turkey, rigorously vet its use of U.S. weapon systems, boost support for the ROC, and hold Ankara accountable for human rights abuses and violations of religious freedom.
Congressional response and next steps
Representative Chris Smith (R) launched a fierce critique of Turkey’s regional role and its reliability within NATO. Chairman Smith announced that the Commission would forward the full testimonies and transcripts of the hearing to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to ensure he is fully briefed ahead of his upcoming visit to Ankara.
During the session, Rep. Smith questioned Ambassador Savva about the living conditions of enclaved persons and the ongoing issue of the missing. Smith proposed organizing a dedicated, specific congressional hearing on the issue of missing persons. Ambassador Savva welcomed the initiative and suggested inviting the families of the missing to testify—a proposal Rep. Smith received with great interest.
Representative James McGovern highlighted the moral obligation to examine human rights in occupied Cyprus, touching on refugees, religious freedom, and the preservation of cultural heritage. While urging the U.S. to pressure Turkey to abide by international law, McGovern warned that American credibility is often undermined by perceptions of “double standards” in global human rights enforcement. He called for a comprehensive solution that guarantees peace, security, and dignity for all Cypriots.
Representatives Bilirakis, Schneider, and Titus reaffirmed their unwavering support for the Republic of Cyprus. They noted that Turkey’s conduct in Cyprus and the broader Middle East stands in stark contrast to American values and directly threatens reliable regional allies, including Cyprus, Greece, and Israel.
The lawmakers pledged to continue opposing the sale of advanced weaponry to Turkey, expose Ankara as an unreliable ally, and push for a just and viable solution to the Cyprus problem based on international law.
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