The British Cypriots in the United Kingdom are demanding the resignation of the British chief councilor who ordered the hoisting of the pseudo-state flag from the London Borough of Waltham Forest. The Turkish Cypriots even accused her of a "racist" statement against the Turkish Cypriot community and are collecting signatures to demand her removal.
According to a Turkish Sabah report, Turkish Cypriots living in the London Borough of Waltham Forest, 17 miles (27 km) northeast of London, said they had been allowed to raise their flag outside town hall to mark the 38th anniversary of the establishment of the pseudo-state. But just hours after the flag was raised, council leader Grace Williams decided to "criticize the Turkish Cypriots by banning the display of their national flag."
Münevver Borova, a member of the Turkish Cypriot community in the United Kingdom, told the Anadolu Agency (AA) that the flag was hoisted on a pole outside the town hall during the memorial service. He said the event started at 10:30 a.m., but officials arrived at about 13:00 p.m., lowered the flag, dragged it to the ground and threw it in the trash. "I asked for the flag, but it was not given to me. "What they did, I said, was disrespect," he added.
Borova said she remained in the room until nightfall as she was confined to a wheelchair and asked for the flag to be handed to her, but to no avail. "This was racism and discrimination and a violation of international law," he said.
Williams later apologized to the Greek Cypriots in a statement, saying: "The Waltham Forest Council apologizes for the insult caused by the hoisting of the flag of northern Cyprus." He justified the removal of the flag, citing Britain's refusal to recognize the pseudo-state.
The Turkish Cypriots, however, according to Sabah, have launched a campaign demanding her resignation.
According to a report on Change.org, "Cllr Williams had substantially backtracked on complaints from a small group of anti-Turkish racists - almost all outside our municipality".
They note that due to her intervention, the council removed the flag of the pseudo-state "a few hours after it was posted instead of allowing it to fly from dawn to dusk".
The petition claimed that the Waltham Forest Council had for years allowed a similar flag-raising ceremony for Tibet, which is also not recognized by the United Kingdom. "It is unacceptable to discriminate in this way," he said.
He claimed that the apology to the Greek Cypriots "places the feelings of the Greek Cypriots above those of the Turkish Cypriots, while at the same time discrediting an entire ethnic community".
"Such vulgar racist, Islamophobic sentiments do not suit any person in public office and Cllr Williams' position is now unfounded," he said. "We urge Cllr Williams to resign immediately and, if not, we urge her fellow councilors to remove her."
The Turkish Cypriot community also asked the council to apologize "to the thousands of residents of the municipality of Turkish Cypriot origin".
Source: sigmalive