Outrage in UK Over Greek Cypriot Lobby Pressuring Trade Envoy Khan to Resign
Politicians and Turkish community organizations in the UK have strongly condemned efforts to force Turkey’s Trade Envoy, Afzal Khan, to resign following his visit to Northern Cyprus. The British Turkish Federation (BTA), DUP MP Sammy Wilson, Lord Northbrook, and the Freedom and Justice Campaign for Northern Cyprus expressed solidarity with Khan against lobbying pressures and political interference.
In a letter to UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, the BTA, representing the UK’s Turkish-origin population, expressed deep concern over the forced resignation attempt, describing it as unjust and discriminatory. The letter stated: “This regrettable decision undermines freedom of expression, weakens parliamentary independence, and sends the wrong message to the 300,000 Turkish Cypriots living in the UK that their views do not matter.”
The letter also criticized the recent actions of the Greek Cypriot lobby in the UK, highlighting efforts to block the “Eurofighter” memorandum between Turkey and the UK. Signed on 23 July 2025, the agreement on Eurofighter Typhoon jets was described as a key step in strengthening defense and security ties between two NATO allies.
The BTA called the lobby’s demands for “guarantees” against Turkey baseless and hypocritical, emphasizing that attempts to disrupt UK-Turkey cooperation threaten strategic defense interests and harm bilateral relations. The organization reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening ties between the UK, Turkey, and the Turkish Cypriot community while opposing discriminatory and divisive lobbying activities.
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