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July 20 marks the 50th anniversary of the Turkish invasion and occupation of Cyprus

Today marks 50 years from the illegal Turkish invasion of Cyprus.

Turkey not only ignored the international community but launched a second offence in August, 1974 and managed to seize more than one third of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus.

The atrocities of the Turkish army included repeated rapes of women of all ages, torture, savage and humiliating treatment of hundreds of people, including children, women and pensioners during their detention by the Turkish forces, as well as robbery on an extensive scale, by Turkish troops and Turkish Cypriots.

Thousands of Greek Cypriots lost their lives and 200,000 Cypriots fled their homes leaving behind their belongings.

The Turkish-Cypriots also later declared the occupied part of the island “a Federated Turkish State.”Every year since, on the anniversary of the invasion, sirens have blared out over the Republic of Cyprus, recalling the moment Turkish troops invaded.