Dr. Fazıl Küçük

Dr. Fazıl Küçük was both a physician who improved people’s health and a courageous leader who fought for his people’s freedom. Have you ever imagined how one person could heal patients while also protecting an entire population through newspaper writing? Let us take a close look at the life of this unforgettable hero of the Turkish Cypriot people.

Fazıl was born on 14 March 1906 in Ortaköy, a village in the Lefkoşa district of Cyprus, in an old mudbrick house. His father, Mehmet Hüseyin Efendi, was a farrier and farmer; his mother was Pembe Hanım. Even as a child of six or seven, Fazıl helped his father with feeding and cleaning animals. He was the second of seven siblings. Although his original name was Mustafa Fadıl, he decided in 1945 to change it to “Fazıl.”

Fazıl’s educational journey was extraordinary: he studied in many different places including Lefkoşa, Istanbul, Paris, and Switzerland. He completed his medical education at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland and became a specialist in lung diseases. As a highly dedicated and enthusiastic student who loved reading and research, he was always noticed by his teachers.

^{Fazıl Küçük in his clinic (generated by artificial intelligence)}

When Dr. Küçük returned to his island as a physician in 1937, he immediately began working for his people. At that time, there were no Turkish Cypriot obstetricians, so he trained in this field as well to meet every need of his community. His most well-known trait was his immense compassion: every Friday, he examined poor patients free of charge in his clinic. He did not limit himself to examinations; for patients who could not afford medicine, he prepared drugs in his own laboratory or paid for their pharmacy bills from his own pocket. Dr. Küçük, who was humorous, sincere, and generous in personal relationships, never abandoned this generosity even after becoming Vice President of the Republic.

Dr. Fazıl Küçük believed that the pen was mightier than the sword in bringing his people’s struggles to the world’s attention. On his own birthday, 14 March 1942, he founded the newspaper “Halkın Sesi” (The Voice of the People). He loved his newspaper so much that he referred to it as his “third child.” When the British administration tried to block him by refusing to provide paper, he never gave up and even printed his newspaper on packaging paper used by grocers. He wrote over two thousand articles in his paper, defending the rights of Turkish Cypriots and giving them hope. Although he was repeatedly taken to court by the British authorities because of his writings, he never stopped speaking the truth.

In his personal life, Dr. Küçük married Süheyla Hanım in 1946, and they had two children named Pembe and Mehmet. Alongside his deep love for his family, he viewed all Turkish Cypriots as part of his own family and called them to unity. He led the establishment of independent associations for workers, farmers, and small business owners, organizing his people into a cohesive force.

In 1960, he was elected the first Vice President of the newly established Republic of Cyprus, securing his place in history. Throughout his life, he remained faithful to the principles of Atatürk and introduced the Cyprus issue to Türkiye and the entire world. When he passed away on 15 January 1984, he left behind a people who had fought for freedom and would never forget him.

Dr. Fazıl Küçük founded the newspaper “Halkın Sesi” on his birthday, which also coincided with Medical Day, becoming the voice of his people. 16 August 1960: The Republic of Cyprus was established, and Dr. Küçük began his duties as the first Vice President.

15 November 1983: When the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus was declared, Dr. Küçük welcomed this joyful occasion with great excitement.