CTCA UK Condemns the Political Forcing Out of Afzal Khan MP for Engaging with Turkish Cypriots

AVRUPA TIMES/LONDON-The Council of Turkish Cypriot Associations UK (CTCA UK) strongly condemns the political pressure that led to the resignation of Mr Afzal Khan MP from his role as the UK’s Trade Envoy to the Republic of Türkiye. His apparent ‘offence’? Meeting Turkish Cypriots during a recent visit to North Cyprus a move that should be lauded, not punished. This forced resignation is an affront to the values of democratic dialogue, equality, and the UK's own declared commitment to a bicommunal Cyprus. It is also a deeply alarming signal: that British officials are being silenced and penalised for even acknowledging Turkish Cypriots a community that has been deliberately marginalised for over six decades.

Chair, Council of Turkish Cypriot Associations UK (CTCA UK) Kenan Nafi writes to Avrupa. 

A Deepening Hypocrisy

The Republic of Cyprus was founded in 1960 as a partnership state between Greek and Turkish Cypriots, with the UK, Türkiye, and Greece as guarantors. That partnership collapsed in 1963 when Turkish Cypriots were forcibly ejected from state institutions and violently excluded from public life. Since then, the island has remained divided, with the Greek Cypriot administration acting unilaterally while claiming sole legitimacy a claim the UK continues to
support in practice, even as it professes to back a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation that recognises the political equality of both peoples. This is not diplomacy. This is duplicity.

Dialogue Is Not a Crime

Mr Khan’s outreach to Turkish Cypriots aligns fully with the UK’s supposed policy of inclusivity and engagement. Punishing him for doing so is not just inconsistent it’s outrageous.

Council of Turkish Cypriot Associations (UK): "The Most Valuable Treasure is Our National Culture"
"En Değerli Hazinemiz Milli Kültürümüzdür

NAFI: "Would the UK have ever approached the Northern Ireland peace process byrefusing to speak to one side? Would it accept peace in Ukraine or Palestine by
only engaging with one party? Of course not. Yet in Cyprus, that’s exactly what it’s doing silencing voices that dare to promote balance and dialogue.

2004: Promises Made.
2025: Promises Broken.

In 2004, Turkish Cypriots overwhelmingly (65%) voted for the UN backed Annan Plan to reunify the island. Greek Cypriots rejected it. The response from world leaders at the time was unequivocal:

“We must now act to end the isolation of Northern Cyprus.”
- Tony Blair, former UK Prime Minister
“Turkish Cypriots should not suffer from the rejection of the UN Plan.”
- Bernard Bot, Council of Europe
“[Their] vote has undone whatever rationale might have existed for pressuring and
isolating them.”
- Kofi Annan, UN Secretary-General
Yet 21 years later, not only has the UK failed to lift a single barrier it continues to
uphold the very isolation it promised to end.
This is not just a policy failure. It is a moral failure.

Silence in Westminster

On 12 August, CTCA UK formally wrote to five MPs Stephen Doughty MP, Dame Priti Patel, Alicia Kearns MP, Wendy Morton MP, and Douglas Alexander MP expressing grave concern over Mr Khan’s resignation and the broader marginalisation of Turkish Cypriots.Not one of them responded. Not even an acknowledgment. This silence speaks louder than any statement and it speaks volumes about the unwillingness of some British politicians to even recognise the existence of Turkish Cypriots.

A Clear Demand

CTCA UK demands the UK Government:

Publicly clarify that dialogue with Turkish Cypriots is not only acceptable but essential to peace. Condemn the political pressure that led to Mr Khan’s resignation. End all policies that contribute to the isolation and erasure of Turkish Cypriots from international engagement. We also call on all UK political parties, MPs, and institutions to reject this censorship and to stand up for fairness, inclusivity, and democratic values. Turkish Cypriots are not invisible. We are not expendable. And we will not remain silent.

Kenan Nafi
Chair, Council of Turkish Cypriot Associations UK (CTCA UK)