Bengihan: "We Will Continue to Resist and Fight"

Bengihan accused the government of hastily drafting legislation over the weekend to impose restrictions on labor contracts and strikes, recalling that a decree had been issued to ban strikes without any legal amendments. He asserted that this action violated the constitution, citing Article 11, which states that fundamental rights and freedoms can only be limited by law, and Article 112, which stipulates that emergency decrees cannot impose additional financial burdens or restrict personal rights.

"Despite these constitutional provisions, the strike was banned through a decree," Bengihan said, accusing the authorities of blatantly violating the constitution and failing to uphold the law.

He also criticized the government's citizenship policies, stating, "In one year, 4,045 people were granted citizenship; in two years, 8,090. This means 40,000 in ten years. Do you realize where this is heading?" Bengihan argued that the cultural and social fabric of the country was being eroded, with the population increasingly dominated by outsiders, leaving little room for the Turkish Cypriot identity.

Emphasizing their commitment to labor rights and the well-being of the country, Bengihan declared, "We stand with workers and those who love this country. We will continue to resist and fight."