Türkiye remembers victims of 'Bloody Christmas' in Turkish Cyprus

Türkiye on Wednesday remembered the victims of "Bloody Christmas" in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).

"We have not forgotten our Turkish Cypriot brothers and sisters who we lost in the Bloody Christmas attacks launched by the Greek terrorist organization EOKA 59 years ago today," the foreign ministry said on Wednesday.

Türkiye commemorates "all the martyrs of the Turkish Cypriot national struggle with mercy and our veterans with gratitude," it said.

Meanwhile, the Turkish Defense Ministry said: "We condemn the Greek Cypriot terrorists who barbarously murdered hundreds of our brothers, children, and women in the events known as Bloody Christmas."

The events leading up to Bloody Christmas started in 1955 with the foundation of EOKA, led by Georgios Grivas, a veteran officer of World War I and World War II as well as a staunch opponent of communists and Turks.

During EOKA's terror campaign of the 1963 Christmas season, 374 Turkish Cypriots were killed, 109 Turkish villages were forced to evacuate, over 2,500 Turkish houses were severely damaged or demolished, and between 25,000 and 30,000 Turkish Cypriots became refugees, according to a UN report released in 1964.