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The Turkish Cypriot leadership and Turkey's Foreign Ministry have condemned Netflix's decision to stream the series "Famagusta," accusing it of distorting historical facts about the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus.
Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar, in an interview with CNN Türk, criticized the series for what he described as misleading the international community. "The series does not reflect reality," Tatar stated, adding that "you cannot fool the world by distorting history." Tatar argued that the 1974 Turkish intervention "saved Turkish Cypriots from genocide and brought peace to the island," accusing the series of a "unilateral approach" that neglects the suffering of Turkish Cypriots before 1974. He compared the events to the current situation in Gaza and indicated that Turkish Cypriots would seek ways to present their perspective through other media.
"Prime Minister" Unal Ustel echoed Tatar's sentiments, describing the portrayal of Turkey as an occupying force as "unacceptable." He accused the series of continuing to "misinform and misrepresent the Turkish Cypriot struggle."
Meanwhile, "Speaker of the Parliament" Zorlu Töre urged the series to highlight "EOKA's attacks against Turkish Cypriots from 1955 to 1974," calling them a "historical fact."
The Turkish Foreign Ministry also issued a statement condemning the series as "black propaganda" by the Greek Cypriot administration. It described the series as disrespectful to "the sacred memories of Turkish Cypriots massacred by bloodthirsty Greek Cypriot gangs between 1963-74" and reiterated Turkey's commitment to its "national cause" in Cyprus.
"Famagusta" will be available on Netflix starting September 20. The series, set during the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus, has already sparked controversy by presenting a narrative that some in the Turkish Cypriot community and Turkish government claim distorts historical events.
[With information from CNA]
