2011 Turkish Cypriot protests

{{Short description|Rallies in Cyprus against Turkey's policies}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}

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| title = Communal Survival Rallies

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| image = Communal Survival Rally.jpg

| caption = Protesters in front of the Turkish embassy

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| place = Nicosia

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| howmany3 = 50,000–80,000

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In 2011, a series of rallies and worker strikes were held by Turkish Cypriots in North Nicosia against Turkey's policies on Cyprus.{{cite news |last=Ros-Lehtinen |first=Ileana |date=15 June 2012 |title=Time for Turkey to leave Cyprus in peace |url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/jun/15/time-for-turkey-to-leave-cyprus-in-peace/ |newspaper=The Washington Times |location= Washington, DC |publisher=The Washington Times, LLC |accessdate=24 July 2014}}{{cite news |date=8 February 2011 |title=Zypern-Türken gegen Ankara |trans-title=Turkish Cypriots against Ankara |url=http://derstandard.at/1296696681241/Zypern-Tuerken-gegen-Ankara |language=German |newspaper=Der Standard |location=Vienna, Austria |publisher=derStandard.at GmbH |accessdate=24 July 2014}}{{Cite journal|date=2011|title=Protests and strikes took place in occupied Cyprus|url=https://www.parikiaki.com/2011/10/protests-and-strikes-took-place-in-occupied-cyprus/|journal=Parikiaki}}

The first protest was held on 28 January 2011. After the hostile reactions of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan{{cite news |last=Jones |first=Dorian |date=9 February 2011 |title=Turkish Cypriot protests set back Turkey's EU membership bid |url=http://www.dw.de/turkish-cypriot-protests-set-back-turkeys-eu-membership-bid/a-14829513 |location=Bonn, Germany |publisher=Deutsche Welle |accessdate=24 July 2014}} and Turkish society, Turkish Cypriots organized a second and third rally on 2 March and 7 April 2011. The average turnout was 50,000–80,000,{{cite web |url=http://www.cyprusnewsreport.com/?q=node/3847 |title=The Turkish Cypriots Protest – Does Erdogan Hear Them? |last=Fenwick |first=Sarah |publisher=CyprusNewsReport.com |date=3 March 2011 |website=CyprusNewsReport.com |accessdate=24 July 2014}}{{cite web |url=http://www.sendika.org/2011/03/ktos-ankara-elini-yakamizdan-cek/ |title=KTÖS: "Ankara elini yakamızdan çek" |publisher=Sendika.Org |date=3 March 2011 |accessdate=24 July 2014 |language=Turkish |trans-title=KTÖS: Ankara, take your hands off us}} making these some of the largest demonstrations by Turkish Cypriots under the occupation.{{cite news |author= |title=Turkish Cypriots stage new anti-austerity rally |url=http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_02/03/2011_381073 |newspaper=Kathimerini |location=Neo Faliro, Greece |publisher=International New York Times – Kathimerini English Edition |date=2 March 2011 |accessdate=24 July 2014}} As of 2011, Northern Cyprus had a population of approximately 290,000.

Some protesters carried flags of the Republic of Cyprus and banners demanding the reunification of the island, and signs condemning economical, cultural, and social oppression of Turkish Cypriots by Turkey.{{cite news |author= |title=Turkish Cypriots protest |url=http://www.parikiaki.com/2011/03/turkish-cypriots-protest/ |newspaper=Parikiaki |location=London, United Kingdom |publisher=Parikiaki |date=2 March 2011 |accessdate=24 July 2014 |archive-date=27 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140727163020/http://www.parikiaki.com/2011/03/turkish-cypriots-protest/ |url-status=dead }} During the final rally, unsuccessful attempts were made to hang the flag of the Republic of Cyprus on the Turkish embassy.{{cite news |date=8 April 2011 |title=Kıbrıs'ta Türk elçiliğine Rum bayrağı! |trans-title=Greek Cypriot flag at Turkish Embassy in Cyprus! |url=http://www.dunyabulteni.net/haber/154699/kibrista-turk-elciligine-rum-bayragi |language=Turkish |newspaper=Dünya Bülteni |location=Turkey |publisher=Dünya Bülteni |accessdate=24 July 2014}}