The Turkish invasion of Cyprus was launched on 20 July 1974.

The Turkish forces landed in Cyprus on 20th of July and captured 3% of the island before a ceasefire was declared. The Greek military junta collapsed and was replaced by a civilian government.

Following the breakdown of peace talks, another Turkish invasion in August 1974 resulted in the capture of approximately 36% of the island.

The ceasefire line from August 1974 became the United Nations Buffer Zone in Cyprus. United Nations Buffer Zone is commonly referred to as the Green Line.

In 1983, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) declared independence, although Turkey is the only country that recognises it.

The international community considers the TRNC’s territory as Turkish-occupied territory of the Republic of Cyprus.

The occupation is viewed as illegal under international law, amounting to illegal occupation of European Union territory since Cyprus became a member.

Turkey was found guilty by the European Commission of Human Rights for displacement of persons, deprivation of liberty, ill treatment, deprivation of life and deprivation of possessions.

In 1976 and again in 1983, the European Commission of Human Rights found the Turkey guilty of repeated violations of the European Convention of Human Rights.

Turkey has been condemned for preventing the return of Greek Cypriot refugees to their properties.

The missing persons list of the Republic of Cyprus confirms that 83 Turkish Cypriots disappeared in Tochni on 14 August 1974.

Also, as a result of the invasion, over 2000 Greek-Cypriot prisoners of war were taken to Turkey and detained in Turkish prisons. Some of them were not released and are still missing.

The Committee on Missing Persons (CMP) in Cyprus, which operates under the auspices of the United Nations, is mandated to investigate approximately 1600 cases of Greek Cypriot and Greek missing persons.

According to a Greek Cypriot claim, since 1974, at least 55 churches have been converted into mosques and another 50 churches and monasteries have been converted into stables, stores, hostels, or museums, or have been demolished.

According to the government spokesman of the de facto Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, this has been done to keep the buildings from falling into ruin.

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