Foreign Minister Özgürgün emphasized during his meeting with journalist Cem Kar, author of the Unknown Prisoners documentary and book: “It is very important to compile accounts of such events, which will shed light on history, into a book and pass them on to future generations.” I was there too.
Acting Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hüseyin Özgürgün said that he had personally experienced the events described in the documentary film and book titled “Unknown Prisoners,” and emphasized the importance of gathering accounts of such events, which shed light on history, into a book and passing them on to future generations.
Özgürgün made the remarks on the subject yesterday when he received journalist Cem Kar, author of the “Unknown Prisoners” documentary and book. During the visit, journalist Cem Kar presented the book “Unknown Prisoners” to Acting Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hüseyin Özgürgün.
WHEN HE WAS TAKEN PRISONER IN LEFKE: Hüseyin Özgürgün noted that he was there when he was taken prisoner in Lefke on July 22, 1974, saying, “I was there when they gathered us in the square. I was there when the 75 were taken away, too. I was nine years old. I saw them take away the men, leaving the women and children behind. This book shed light on things for me, too. The only thing missing from this book is me...” He said the documentary and book were important for understanding where the Turkish Cypriot people had come from, where they were now, and what they had experienced.
Özgürgün also emphasized that he was ready to provide every kind of support for such projects.
THE STORY OF 75 MUJAHIDEEN WHO ESCAPED: Journalist Cem Kar explained that the documentary film and book titled “Unknown Prisoners” were the result of research that had been ongoing since 2009. He said they recount the story of how 75 mujahideen gathered from Lefke and the surrounding villages escaped after Lefke surrendered on July 22, 1974, and how Turkish journalists who had come to the island to inform the world about the Second Operation encountered them in captivity.
Kar said that his first official visit about the documentary and book was to Acting Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hüseyin Özgürgün, adding, “I’m making my first visit to you because you have made very significant contributions, both material and moral, to the creation of this work.”