On Tuesday, 9th July, local Turkish Cypriot residents in Barnet attended a council meeting calling for changes to the council twinning programs with Morphou municipality located in Northern Cyprus.
Seyyare Beyzade spoke at the meeting to highlight that Turkish Cypriot residents have felt, “We have not been permitted an equal voice or standing compared with other communities. Instead, Barnet council has used taxpayers’ money to act as a soundboard for anti-Turkish and Turkish Cypriot propaganda…”
Beyzade touched on the deep history between the divided island and questioned the council on how the twinning program has excluded Turkish Cypriots living in the borough. She highlighted a number of incidents where Turkish Cypriots felt discriminated against, from “attempts to ban adverts to Northern Cyprus, which The High Court found unlawful” to children being forced to attend the Greek Orthodox School despite it not being one of their top five preferences.
Beyzade called for a “commitment to the full involvement of the Turkish Cypriot community in any further Borough events regarding Cyprus and the twinning with Morphou/Guzelyúrt,” and “a commitment to pro-actively support the Turkish Cypriot Culture and an effort to positively promote our community in Barnet.”
In response, Council Leader Councillor Barry Rawlings responded to Mrs. Beyzade’s examples as “unsubstantiated claims of racism,” which will be discussed further outside of the meeting. He then stated regarding students not been given there choice schools “Paternal choice, nobody is forced to go to a school, there home education.”
Cllr Rawlings went on to say, “The UK does not recognize the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus as an independent state. As a local authority and in line with UK government policy, it would not be appropriate for us to engage with the council…”
The leader stated they would note the deputation, but not take any action and the council would keep up-to-date with any changes to government policy.
Cllr Richard Cornelius, leader of the opposition party, the Conservatives for Barnet, added, “Foreign policy is not a matter for Barnet council.” He touched that he himself has visited Morphou, saying he “feels for all those who cannot enjoy their properties and live happily where they were brought up.” Adding “The Conservative party would like to hear all allegations of racism. Anyone who makes an allegation like that deserves to have their conversation heard, and we need to sort this out.”
Following the meeting Beyzade expressed her disappointed that no action was taken, saying “This is a fight we intend to continue.”