​​​​​​​ Theophilos Gorgadis: Symbol of Greek-Kurdish friendship

 Theophilos Georgadis was born on October 9, 1957 in the village of Afrikos in Cyprus.  Her family was forced to leave the village during the Turkish occupation in 1974. She was 17 years old at the time, and wanted to become a fighter, but her father did not allow her to do so.

   Georgadis graduated from Cyprus High School in 1975 and joined the army.  She moved to Athens in 1977 and studied political science at Pantheon University.  She also learned Turkish during her university studies.

 When she returned to Cyprus, she served in the police for 3 years.  In 1986, she began working in the Turkish Affairs Department at the Press and Media Foundation of the Republic of Cyprus.

 Theophilos Gorgadis became acquainted with the Kurds and their struggle in 1987. Since that time, she has worked diligently in the Greek and Cypriot public opinion in defending the cause of Kurdistan.

 In 1988, she established the "Kurdistan Support Committee" and published "Voice of Kurdistan" magazine in Greek.

 She fought for the rights of the Roman Cypriots, as well as the Kurdish people, and also worked to expose the brutality and occupation of the Turkish state.

 She gave hundreds of interviews and many seminars on the expansionist policy of the Turkish state.

 She used to issue a monthly magazine, The Voice of Kurdistan, and Theophilos Gorgadis contributed to developing and promoting the magazine through her writing and research.  The magazine was sold monthly in Greece and Cyprus, and had a circulation of about 40,000 copies.  Georgiadis has written articles for the magazine on Greek-Kurdish friendship, the Turkish occupation of Cyprus, and human rights violations in Kurdistan.

 Theophilos Georgadis visited Lebanon several times, met the leader Abdullah Ocalan, and conducted meetings with him.  These interviews were published in the Voice of Kurdistan magazine and in various media in Greece and Cyprus.  She also introduced the peoples of Cyprus and Greece to the struggle of the Guerilla fighters through her writings.

 She used to say to Cypriots during her writing, "As long as you do not fight the Turkish occupation, then provide support and assistance to the Kurdish people's struggle."

 Charlampos Gorgadis, father of Theophilos Gorgadis, spoke in 1996 to MED TV about his daughter's struggle for the Kurdish people: "For Theophilos, the liberation of Cyprus was a sacred goal. After getting to know the Kurds and their struggle, she devoted all her time to the cause of Kurdistan. The resistance and freedom of the people  The Kurds will open the door to our freedom."

 As a result of her efforts in the Greek and Cypriot parliaments, she contributed to the establishment of very important friendship relations between the two peoples, thanks to which Greek and Cypriot public opinion became acquainted with the Kurds and their struggle.

 Theophilos Georgiadis also participated in Kurdish festivals and celebrations in European countries, and her last participation was to attend the Kurdish conference in Brussels on March 12-13, 1994.

 A week after the conference, she returned to Cyprus, and went from Larnaca Airport to her home in Nicosia.  After she parked her car, she headed home.  Meanwhile, the Turkish state gangs shot her, and she was assassinated in front of her house.

 Theophilus Georgiadis was 37 years old and had 3 children.  Her martyrdom aroused great resentment among the peoples of Kurdistan, Cyprus and Greece.

 Commander Ocalan talked about Theophilus Georgiadis

 Leader Abdullah Ocalan sent a telegram of condolences to her family and the people of Cyprus. In his telegram, which was published in the file of the martyrs published in Sarkhbon newspaper in 1994, the leader said: "Comrade Theophilus was a revolutionary, her heart was full of love for humanity and she loved her country with all sincerity."

 Theophilus was struggling with all means against colonialism and the colonialists, she considered the brutality of the Turkish state against our people an attack on her own people, and she fought against it with all vigour.  With her invaluable support for our struggle, she won great respect and sympathy in the hearts of our people.

 For this reason, we say that Theophilus is our able companion.  She is one of our martyrs and was a bridge between peoples.  It has held an important place in our history.  We will remember it in the course of our history.  We will do whatever is necessary to honor her memory.  I offer my deepest condolences to the family of the martyr and the people of Cyprus, and we will continue to fight against the Turkish state."

 A memorial to her was erected at the Shrine of the Martyrs in Cyprus

 The great artist Aram Tikran composed a song called Theophilus and named it on his album.

 The Greeks did not forget it and gave its name to many squares and squares.  A symphony was composed in her name, as well as an opera.  A mass is organized in her name in the church every year.

 The body of Theophilus Gorgadis was buried in the Roman cemetery, and a monument was erected in her memory.

 A

 ANHA