Anti-Denktash book causes fury among Turkish Cypriots
A book which offers fierce criticism for late Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash caused fury among the Turkish Cypriot community over the weekend, with figures from across the north’s political spectrum rushing to condemn it.
The book is entitled Dumbuk, a Turkish word which is considered an insult and can be translated into English as “pimp” or “cuck”, depending on its context, and its front cover has that word written in blood above a picture of Denktash on fire, and the subtitle “the story of a fraud”.
It was written by Turkish Cypriot author Ilker Ozkunt, who described it as “the true story of the Turkish-speaking Cypriots”.
“It is a book which deviates significantly from the familiar and memorised history of Cyprus, reflecting not what is shown, but what must be seen. Dumbuk reveals how ignorant, unconscious, and cowardly Turkish-speaking Cypriots are,” he said of the book.
He added, “if Turkish-speaking Cypriots had not succumbed to the pressures of TMT and Greek-speaking Cypriots had not succumbed to the pressures of Eoka and the two had not perceived each other as enemies, the island of Cyprus would never have been occupied or divided”.
One of the first to react was Denktash’s son Serdar Denktash, who described Ozkunt as “a disgraceful man, discharged from the military, who is at odds with his entire family”.
He said Ozkunt “wrote a smear piece against someone who dedicated his entire life to his country, calling it a book, even more vile than his own character, and released it”.
Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar was quick to follow, describing the book as an “attack” on Denktash, and “unacceptable”.
“Criticising historical figures is one thing; insulting them with baseless allegations and spewing hatred and malice with absurd ideas is quite another. Such a tone in the direction of the cherished memory of out late founding president Is completely unacceptable,” he said.
He described the book as a “blatant insult to the history of Turkish Cypriots”, and added, “remaining silent on this situation is unbecoming of us or our history, and this blatant impudence has nothing to do with freedom of expression or criticism”.
“Words cannot express the anger I feel towards this book. I strongly condemn the so-called author of this vileness,” he said.
Tufan Erhurman, the man who is set to challenge Tatar for the role of Turkish Cypriot leader at October’s election, also offered criticism for the book.
“Of course, I have not read the book, but I find it inappropriate to use the words on the cover to describe anyone who is no longer with us, let alone a historical figure for the Turkish Cypriot people,” he said.
He added, “criticism is one thing; insults, especially insults in the direction of someone who is no longer with us, are quite another”.
“Respecting a historical figure … does not necessarily mean agreeing with him,” he said.