1974 Cyprus operation Turkish flag kept 36 years in Northern Cyprus

Aynur Gazcıoğlu, a 54‑year‑old resident of Güzelyurt in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, says she was given a Turkish flag by a Turkish‑Cypriot neighbor who witnessed the 1974 Cyprus Peace Operation. The flag, used by Turkish soldiers ("Mehmetçiğin"), was stored in her chest for 36 years. Gazcıoğlu, who moved to the north in 1990, plans to pass the flag to her grandchild, describing it as a symbol of national values and comparing its importance to the Qur'an.

The 1974 operation, launched on 20 July, was Turkey's military intervention to protect the Turkish‑Cypriot community after inter‑communal violence. Gazcıoğlu emphasizes the flag's historic significance, noting that it still bears the marks of the conflict and reflects the lasting sentiment towards national symbols among the Turkish community in Northern Cyprus.