Alpha News

UN Blocks Event in Deryneia Dedicated to 'Women Return 1975'

Published January 9, 2026, 19:16

The United Nations has blocked an event scheduled to take place in the Deryneia Dead Zone, dedicated to 'Women Return 1975'. The event included the screening of rare visual material from the 1975 march, a historical movement of Cypriot women who returned to their homes after the Turkish invasion. The Cyprus Bar Association and the Union of Cypriots condemn the ban, describing it as a violation of fundamental rights, such as freedom of expression and the right to cultural heritage. They argue that the event was peaceful and cultural in nature, without posing a threat to security. The 'Women Return' movement is considered a powerful symbol of resistance and the assertion of rights, both in Cyprus and internationally, inspiring similar movements in other regions, such as Palestine. The screening of the material was part of an effort to preserve and transmit the history of this movement. The representative of the Union of Cypriots, Oz Karahan, accused the United Nations of succumbing to a 'racist, apartheid ideology' that criminalizes any action challenging the occupation and demanding freedom.