Erhurman calls for dialogue over violence in Bayram message

Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman on Sunday expressed hope that, in the medium to long term, culture will prevail over violence and power.

In a message marking the end of Eid al-Fitr, Erhurman said he hoped his prediction would not be disproven, warning that humanity continues to suffer in what he described as an environment where “reason and conscience are on pause”.

According to the Turkish Cypriot press, he said a defining feature of civilisation is the ability to resolve problems through dialogue and rules rather than conflict or war, both within societies and at the international level.

“Humanity has paid a heavy price for uncivilised behaviour,” he said, adding that after major conflicts, societies have consistently turned to dialogue and rule-making in pursuit of more peaceful coexistence.

Referring to global power dynamics, Erhurman said stronger actors often create conditions where force becomes decisive when it serves their interests, while weaker actors that adopt similar approaches tend to suffer the consequences.

He concluded that throughout history, each major conflict has ultimately reinforced the need for dialogue, noting that humanity remains trapped in a recurring cycle.