Cyprus Turkish Press Mourns the Loss of Perihan Aziz

Born in 1952, Perihan Aziz completed her primary education in Bağlıköy, a village near Lefke, attended secondary school and high school in Lefke, and later graduated from the Ankara University Faculty of Political Sciences, Department of Press and Broadcasting. In 1975, she started working as a reporter at the Turkish Cypriot News Agency (TAK), where she became an instrumental figure in the agency's legal recognition. After serving in editorial and deputy director roles, she became the director of TAK, retiring from this position in 2012.

Aziz, who reported on major historical events including the declaration of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), the negotiation processes, the opening of crossing points, the Annan Plan process, and the 2004 referendums, was a pioneering woman journalist whose life was dedicated to struggle. She was also featured in a series of interviews conducted by TAK last year with journalists who witnessed the TRNC’s declaration.

One of her most notable contributions was writing the "flash" news that announced the declaration of the TRNC to the world. Reflecting on that day, she described November 15, 1983, as a moment when "excitement, anxiety, joy, peace, and restlessness were felt all at once."

Perihan Aziz, who always expressed pride in her roots from Mülkiye, was also featured in a documentary by the Women’s Stories Association (KÖDER). A leading figure in her village, she spearheaded efforts for Bağlıköy to become an eco-village, and was a strong supporter of a women’s cooperative, 4K, in the Lefke region. Aziz was also a supporter of the boutique hotel business in Bağlıköy.

She had been undergoing cancer treatment for an extended period before her passing.