“Northern Cyprus is occupied. Period.” MEF Director of Policy Analysis. Middle East Forum Director of Policy Analysis Michael Rubin testifies before the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission at its June 30, 2026 hearing, “Human Rights in Turkish-Occupied Cyprus: Erdoğan’s Record and Its Implications for the Ankara NATO Summit.”
Rubin argues that Turkey’s occupation is not a frozen conflict. He examines Ankara’s settlement campaign, its deployment of F-16s and drones to occupied northern Cyprus, the threatened redevelopment of Varosha, and the territory’s role in money laundering and other illicit activity.
Rubin calls on Washington to identify Turkey’s occupation clearly, impose consequences for Ankara’s violations, and make the restoration of Cypriot sovereignty a core objective of U.S. foreign policy.
Read the full testimony at MEForum.org. @mrubin1971 @uscongress @TLHumanRights
