Tag: UK

Turkish Cypriot NGOs Deliver Letters to UK Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary on Afzal Khan MP’s Forced Resignation

21 August, 2025

Representatives from the Freedom and Fairness for Northern Cyprus (FFNC) campaign, Embargoed!, and the British Turkish Cypriot Association (BTCA) visited both the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and 10 Downing Street to deliver letters addressed to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Foreign Secretary David Lammy, and Stephen Doughty, Minister of State for Europe and North America.

The letters expressed outrage at the forced resignation of Afzal Khan MP as the UK’s Trade Envoy to Türkiye following political pressure over his recent personal visit to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).

Rikki Williams, Co-Chair of the FFNC campaign, said:
“It is outrageous that a foreign power can dictate what the UK government does. While Afzal Khan has resigned, the government’s failure to support him is deeply troubling.”

Nejla Clements, Secretary of Embargoed!, said:
“As Embargoed! we are appalled at Afzal Khan’s fate simply for engaging with Northern Cyprus in a private capacity. We have written to Stephen Doughty to explain Embargoed!’s stance and the Turkish Cypriot position. We also detailed our objections and made it clear why this is unacceptable.”

In addition to the joint letters, Embargoed! has also written separately to MPs Alexander Douglas, Dame Priti Patel, Wendy Morton, and Alicia Kearns, setting out the Turkish Cypriot community’s objections and urging them to reconsider their positions.

Çetin Ramadan, Co-Chair of the FFNC campaign, said:
“Labour prides itself on fairness, yet Afzal Khan has been forced out for a personal visit. His trip was primarily to pay respects at a Muslim site, Sheikh Nazim’s shrine, but the whole issue has been unnecessarily politicised.”

This follows strong criticism from Sammy Wilson MP, who condemned Khan’s resignation as “deeply unfair and unjust.” Wilson also accused Conservative MPs of hypocrisy, highlighting that those attacking Khan have themselves visited Northern Cyprus or other unrecognised territories such as Somaliland.

Further backing came from Lord Northbrook, Vice Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, who described the political pressure that led to Khan’s resignation as “deeply regrettable.” Lord Northbrook stressed that parliamentarians must be free to engage with Turkish Cypriots without fear of reprisal, warning that attempts to silence dialogue undermine democracy and parliamentary independence.

Vice Chair of TRNC APPG Issues Statement on Afzal Khan’s Resignation

21 August, 2025

Statement from the Vice Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

As the Vice Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, I, along with fellow Members of both Houses of Parliament who serve on this Group, wish to express our deep concern at the resignation of Afzal Khan MP from his position as the UK’s Trade Envoy to Türkiye, following sustained pressure from outside groups.

Mr Khan’s recent visit to the TRNC was conducted in a personal capacity, with the simple aim of fostering dialogue, understanding, and engagement. For such a visit to be met with hostility and the kind of political pressure that has led to his resignation is deeply regrettable.

Parliamentarians must be free to engage with communities, build relationships, and listen to different perspectives without fear of reprisal. Attempts to intimidate or silence parliamentarians undermine the very principles of democratic representation and parliamentary independence.

The APPG for the TRNC will continue its important work of promoting dialogue, deepening understanding of the issues facing Turkish Cypriots, and ensuring that their voices are heard in Westminster.

We stand in solidarity with Afzal Khan MP and reaffirm that Members of Parliament and Peers should never be deterred from engaging constructively on matters of international importance.

Lord Northbrook
Vice Chair, APPG for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

Sammy Wilson MP Hits Out at Conservative Double Standards on Afzal Khan’s Visit to Northern Cyprus

20 August, 2025

Senior Conservative MPs, including Shadow Foreign Office Minister Wendy Morton and former Chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee Alicia Kearns, have been accused of hypocrisy after condemning Labour MP Afzal Khan for visiting the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) – despite having undertaken similar visits themselves.

Wendy Morton, a former Minister for Europe, recently criticised Mr Khan’s trip, stating:

“A government representative would never visit occupied Donbas or Crimea. So for Afzal Khan to unofficially visit occupied northern Cyprus is totally unacceptable.”

Yet in 2021, Morton herself paid an official visit to the TRNC, where she met with President Ersin Tatar in her capacity as a UK government minister.

More recently, just three months ago, Morton took part in a trip funded by the Greek Cypriot government to southern Cyprus – raising further questions about her impartiality and understanding of the UK’s responsibilities as a guarantor power.

Similarly, Alicia Kearns, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, condemned travel to “a territory we don’t recognise.” However, in 2023 she travelled to Somaliland – a region which also has no international recognition from the UK or the broader international community.

Critics argue that the attacks on Khan reflect a pattern of selective amnesia from the Tory front bench, with Morton and Kearns both having engaged with unrecognised or disputed territories when politically convenient.

The episode has reignited debate around the UK’s constitutional role as a guarantor power under the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee, which requires the UK to act impartially and maintain good relations with both Greek and Turkish Cypriots. Morton’s comparison of Northern Cyprus to Russian-occupied Donbas or Crimea has drawn particular criticism for misrepresenting the UK’s legal and diplomatic obligations. Critics say such rhetoric risks undermining the delicate balance Britain is meant to uphold between the two communities on the island.

Commenting on the controversy, DUP MP Sammy Wilson said:

“Afzal Khan’s resignation is deeply unfair and unjust. No MP should be punished for engaging with Turkish Cypriots and listening to their concerns.

“For decades, MPs have visited Northern Cyprus and met officials without consequence – yet Afzal Khan has been unfairly singled out.

“The hypocrisy is glaring: those now criticising him have themselves visited Northern Cyprus and even travelled to territories the UK does not recognise, such as Somaliland.

“Silencing dialogue in this way undermines free speech and sets a dangerous precedent for parliamentary independence.”

References:

  • Wendy Morton’s remarks criticising Afzal Khan’s visit to Northern Cyprus were published in the Daily Mail (August 2025), where she stated:
    “A government representative would never visit occupied Donbas or Crimea. So for Afzal Khan to unofficially visit occupied northern Cyprus is totally unacceptable.”
    Full article: Daily Mail – 20 August 2025
  • Wendy Morton previously visited the TRNC in 2021 as the UK’s Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Europe, where she met with President Ersin Tatar in an official capacity:
    TRNC Presidency Website – October 2021
  • Alicia Kearns publicly condemned travel to unrecognised territories in response to Afzal Khan’s visit, stating:
    “We should not be sending parliamentarians to a territory we don’t recognise.”
    Tweet by Alicia Kearns – 2025
  • Yet in 2023, Alicia Kearns herself visited Somaliland, a territory not recognised by the UK or the international community. Her visit included meetings with officials and was shared on her public channels:
    Tweet by Alicia Kearns – September 2023

Statement on Afzal Khan MP’s Visit to the TRNC

12 August, 2025

Afzal Khan MP’s visit to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), in a personal capacity, shows his commitment to ensuring engagement with Turkish Cypriots that reflects a spirit of dialogue and openness that should be encouraged, not criticised.

Recent attacks on Mr Khan are misplaced and risk undermining the UK’s longstanding and balanced role as a Guarantor Power in Cyprus. The UK Government regularly meets representatives from both the North and the South of Cyprus. Minister Doughty has met President Ersin Tatar on multiple occasions since the General Election. Engagement with the TRNC forms a key part of the UK’s role as a Guarantor Power.

The United Nations continues to facilitate 5 plus 1 talks, of which the UK is part, to find a comprehensive settlement to the Cyprus issue. Attempting to silence or prevent dialogue with one side only makes the prospect of a lasting agreement less likely. The TRNC – and Turkish Cypriots around the world – too often remain excluded from international engagement, despite being essential to any future solution.

We commend Mr Khan’s willingness to engage in respectful dialogue and urge all public figures to adopt a balanced and constructive approach to Cyprus.