Cyprus: European Parliament recognizes rape as a weapon of war of the 1974 Turkish invasion for the first time

For the first time, the European Parliament officially recognized that sexual violence was used as a weapon of war during the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974. More than fifty years after the events, it states that Turkey remains responsible for the violations of international law committed during and after the invasion, calls for reparations for the victims, and reaffirms that the occupation of the northern part of the island remains illegal. Photo Christian CREUTZ © European Union 2026 - European Parliament for educational and non-commercial purposes.

On 8 July 2026, the European Parliament adopted a resolution that marked a turning point in its position on Cyprus. For the first time, it officially recognized that sexual violence was used as a weapon of war during the 1974 Turkish invasion and affirms Turkey’s continuing responsibility for the violations of international law committed during and after the invasion.

Adopted by 575 votes to 33 and based on a report by Greek MEP Eleonora Meleti, the resolution condemns the invasion and occupation of the northern part of the island, which has continued for more than fifty years without any lasting solution having been found. It calls for the recognition and reparation of victims, for genuine remembrance work, and for the resumption of negotiations on the reunification of Cyprus under the auspices of the United Nations.

Rape used as a weapon of war in Cyprus

According to the European Parliament, sexual violence was used systematically against women and girls from different communities in Cyprus, including Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, Maronites, Armenians, and Latins. Committed mainly by members of the Turkish armed forces acting under the direction or with the protection of their officers, these crimes are among the least recognized aspects of the conflict, both historically and legally and institutionally.

The exact number of victims remains difficult to establish. According to information gathered by Parliament, between 700 and 1,500 women and girls are believed to have suffered sexual violence. This underreporting is explained in particular by trauma, fear, shame, and the absence of mechanisms allowing victims to testify safely. Many remained silent for decades or left the island to escape stigmatization, while several suicides and suicide attempts are believed to have been linked to this violence. The scale of the violence was such that the Orthodox Church of Cyprus exceptionally authorized abortion for raped women, even though it was prohibited under Cypriot law at the time.

Half a century of Turkish occupation

The origin of the conflict dates back to the summer of 1974. On 15 July, the military junta in power in Greece organized a coup against the Cypriot president, Archbishop Makarios, with the aim of uniting the island with Greece. Five days later, Turkey intervened militarily, invoking its role as guarantor power under the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee. After an initial ceasefire, a second offensive launched on 14 August allowed it to take control of approximately 36% of Cypriot territory.

While Ankara presents this intervention as an operation intended to restore constitutional order, its troops remained in place after Archbishop Makarios returned to the presidency. In 1983, the northern authorities unilaterally proclaimed the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus", recognized only by Turkey and kept on economic, financial, military, and political support. More than fifty years after the invasion, the Republic of Cyprus remains the only European Union member state with part of its territory occupied by a third country.

Displacement, dispossession, and the erasure of Christian heritage

The human consequences of the invasion remain considerable. Around 200,000 Greek Cypriots fled the northern part of the island, hundreds of people disappeared, and thousands of properties were abandoned. The occupation was also accompanied by a profound transformation of the territory. Hundreds of Orthodox churches, chapels, and monasteries were looted, desecrated, destroyed, or converted to other uses. Cemeteries were vandalized, works of art and liturgical objects disappeared, while many villages had their Greek names replaced with Turkish toponyms.

A significant portion of the abandoned property remains inaccessible to its owners today, while restitution proceedings brought before the Immovable Property Commission often remain stalled for many years. In June 2025, Indeed, the European Court of Human Rights condemned Turkey for the excessive length of this restitution mechanism, illustrating the continued relevance of this litigation (K.V. Mediterranean Tours Limited v. Turkey).