TRNC Founding President Rauf Raif Denktas remembered on 14th anniversary

WISE NEWS PRESS / LEFKOSA, TRNC 

Rauf Raif Denktas, the founding President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), who etched his name in history through his relentless struggle for the freedom and sovereignty of the Cyprus Turkish people, is being remembered with gratitude and mercy on the 14th anniversary of his death.

Dedicted to the cause of independence, Denktas passed away 14 years ago today in Lefkosa. His life, ideas, and political legacy continue to serve as a beacon for future generations, earning him eternal respect across the Turkish world, particularly in Cyprus and Türkiye.

From Law to National Leadership

Born on January 27, 1924, in Paphos, Denktas was the youngest son of Judge Mehmet Raif Bey. After completing his primary and secondary education in Istanbul and Lefkosa, he studied law at Lincoln’s Inn in the United Kingdom, graduating in 1947. Upon returning to Cyprus, he quickly rose through the legal ranks, becoming a prosecutor in 1949 and eventually ascending to the position of solicitor general in 1956.

Leader of the Resistance: "Toros" and the TMT

Denktas’s political journey began in earnest when he met Dr. Fazil Kucuk and began writing for the "Halkin Sesi" (Voice of the People) newspaper. He played a crucial role in organizing the first mass meeting of Cyprus Turks in 1948. As the threats from the Greek EOKA terrorist organization escalated, Denktas resigned from his government post to co-found the Turkish Resistance Organization (TMT) on August 1, 1958. Using the code name "Toros," he organized the defense of Turkish villages and advocated for the presence of Turkish troops on the island.

The Founding of the Republic

Denktas was instrumental in the preparation of the 1959 Zurich and London Agreements and the 1960 Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus. Following the 1974 Cyprus Peace Operation, he led the transition to the Turkish Federated State of Cyprus in 1975. The pinnacle of his political life came on November 15, 1983, with the declaration of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. He served as the President of the TRNC for over two decades, winning consecutive elections in 1985, 1990, 1995, and 2000.

A Man of Arts and Literature

Beyond his political and military leadership, Denktas was a prolific writer and a passionate photographer. He authored numerous books and articles from 1985 until his death, documenting the Cyprus cause and the island’s natural beauty through his camera lens. He passed away due to organ failure on the night of January 13, 2012, at the age of 88. Following his death, national mourning was declared in both Türkiye and the TRNC. He rests today at Republic Park in Lefkosa.

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