Serdar Denktaş: "We Are a Society That Has Adopted the Atatürkist Way of Life"

He emphasized that the Turkish Cypriot community is the most secular Muslim society in the world and added, “In this society, no one has ever judged another for how they practice their religion, nor can they. I oppose the mentality that says, ‘I won’t read your prayer’ or ‘Go to the Greeks’ and the obscurantism that accompanies it, and I will continue to oppose it.”

Denktaş pointed out that according to the law, anyone under the age of 18 is considered a child, and it is unacceptable to use children in political religious arguments. He continued, “Our grandmothers and ancestors wore headscarves and black robes. Today, there is an emerging understanding that if you are secular, you are godless. There is no such thing. We are a society that has sincerely adopted the Atatürkist way of life."

"A CHILD'S RIGHT TO EDUCATION CAN NEVER BE RESTRICTED"

Denktaş also stressed that a child's right to education should never be restricted, even if they wear a headscarf. He explained:

“A child’s family has the right to say, ‘We are a devout family, and we want our daughter to wear a headscarf.’ That child has the right to receive an education. There are schools where they can receive this education. There can be no such thing as restricting a child’s right to education. However, we will always oppose the mentality that says, ‘Those who disagree should go to the Greeks,’ or ‘I won’t read the prayer for them,’ or comments like ‘they died on stage, don’t bring their corpse to the mosque.’”

Denktaş emphasized that Atatürkism is not something learned by rote; rather, it is a lifestyle that the Turkish Cypriot people have sincerely adopted. He added, “Atatürk’s principles and revolutions were voluntarily embraced by the Turkish Cypriots. We did not turn Atatürk into a deity, we genuinely believed in him and made his way of life our own.”

"THE ATTEMPT TO CREATE A 'RELIGIOUS-ATHEIST' DIVIDE"

Denktaş also mentioned the long-standing efforts to create division between Turkish Cypriots and mainland Turks, recalling a comment made by a party member: “What Denktaş’s son says, you’ve blown it out of proportion, he also says, ‘Go to the Greeks.’” He considered this remark an insult.

He continued, “If I were to file a lawsuit, people would say I am taking legal action against Turks. But these remarks do not stick to me because I grew up in a home full of love for Turkey.”

Denktaş pointed out that the real divide being created today is not between Turkish Cypriots and mainland Turks, but rather on the basis of religion. He labeled this division attempt as a significant threat, attributing it to the upcoming elections. He explained, “They want to divide us into two camps, the religious and the atheist, because it has become clear that the divide between federalists and supporters of two states will not work, nor will the divide between Turkish Cypriots and mainland Turks. Therefore, an attempt is being made to create a division based on the politicization of religion.”

In conclusion, Denktaş stated that the criticism he received was only from an ignorant minority and internet trolls, adding, "I said what was in my heart, I spoke the truth, and I voiced what the Turkish Cypriot people believe. I became the voice of those who could not speak out due to their love for Turkey. The Turkish Cypriot believes that no one can stand between a person and Allah as a guardian of the afterlife or as a controller.”