Turkish-American community condemns upcoming Netflix series ‘Famagusta’

The Turkish-American community has voiced strong opposition to the upcoming release of the series “Famagusta” on Netflix – which is produced in collaboration with Greece and the Greek Cypriot Administration.

The show, set to premiere on Sept. 20, has sparked backlash because of its portrayal of historical events in the city of Famagusta, located in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).

Critics alleged the series distorts historical facts.

Organizations and activists from the Turkish-American community reacted after learning that Famagusta would be available on the streaming platform.

They argue that the show misrepresents the history of the region. The Turkish-American Security Foundation (TASFO) President Fatih Ozonur took to social media to express the community’s frustration.

“We condemn Netflix for ignoring the Turks who were massacred by the EOKA terror organization on the island of Cyprus while portraying the Turkish army as an occupying force,” said Ozonur.

He also accused Netflix of having a history of targeting Türkiye, recalling previous controversies surrounding the portrayal of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Republic of Türkiye.

Ozonur added that Netflix “supports anti-Türkiye, racist Greek, and Armenian diasporas.”

He urged the Turkish-American community to protest against the streaming service’s decision to broadcast the series. “Remember, those who do not immediately react to transgressors will eventually face tyrants,” he warned.

To underscore his point, Ozonur shared a historical excerpt from a 1964 article in The Washington Post, which reported on Greek Cypriot extremists’ genocidal policies against Turkish Cypriots.

Turkish-American community demands accountability from Netflix

Turkish-American activist Ibrahim Kurtulus also took action, penning a letter to Netflix’s headquarters in California.

In the letter, Kurtulus expressed “deep concerns” over the series’ content. He reminded Netflix of its responsibilities as a publicly traded company on the NASDAQ stock exchange.

“As a public company, Netflix must ensure that the content it shares, especially on sensitive and historical topics, is accurate and balanced, as it can influence public perception and international relations,” wrote Kurtulus.

He further explained that Türkiye’s 1974 Cyprus Peace Operation was a legal response to a coup staged by the Greek junta, which aimed to annex the island to Greece.

This right, he noted, was granted to Türkiye through a 1960 treaty signed with the United Kingdom and Greece.

“The intervention was not an occupation, as implied by the film, but a necessary and lawful response to the imminent threat faced by the Turkish Cypriot people,” said Kurtulus.

Kurtulus also criticized the series for neglecting the suffering endured by Turkish Cypriots during this period.

“The pain and loss experienced by many families, whose loved ones were killed and buried in mass graves, is a tragic reality that must be acknowledged.”

“The United Nations has worked to identify and properly reinter the deceased to promote healing and understanding between the two sides,” he added.

Controversial timing

Famagusta director Andreas Georgiou announced on Aug. 26 that the series would be available on Netflix from Sept. 20.

The timing of the announcement drew additional criticism, as it coincided with significant dates in Turkish history, such as the anniversary of the Battle of Manzikert and the beginning of the Great Offensive, which led to the retreat of Greek forces in 1922.

Social media users speculated that Georgiou deliberately chose this date to provoke a reaction from the Turkish community.

To date, 16 episodes of Famagusta have aired on a Greek television channel. The show focuses on the events in the city of Famagusta during the 1974 Cyprus Peace Operation, which was conducted by Türkiye to protect Turkish Cypriots.

However, the series presents the narrative from a Greek perspective, which Turkish critics say does not align with historical facts.