Racism in Karpaz: Shepherd Attacked After Being Mistaken for a Greek Cypriot

According to reports, the victim — known as Vefa — was subjected to verbal and physical abuse by two unknown assailants. Following the assault, the attackers reportedly justified their actions by saying, “We thought he was a Greek.”

The assault provoked a strong public reaction, particularly from local residents of the Karpaz area. Among them, Duygu Zengin Paşa issued a statement on social media condemning the violence and expressing solidarity with the victim. Paşa described Vefa as one of the most respected, honest, and kind-hearted people in the village, calling for the perpetrators to be punished to the fullest extent.

Highlighting the region’s history of peaceful coexistence between Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots, Paşa said Dipkarpaz has long been a place where shared land, air, and cultural heritage have bound communities together. She emphasized that speaking Greek is a natural reflection of this coexistence and multilingual past, and warned that multicultural identities are increasingly becoming targets of hatred and racism.

Paşa also shared that she herself has previously faced discrimination for similar reasons and described the attack not just as an assault on Vefa, but as an attack on tolerance, humanity, and the will to live together peacefully.

She concluded her statement with a call for unity: “Our differences are our richness. They should be a reason for peace, not enmity.”