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[_] We demand the union with Greece [_] We are against the union of Cyprus with Greece | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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An unofficial referendum on enosis (reunification) with Greece was held in British Cyprus between 15 and 22 January 1950. The vote was not sanctioned by the British authorities.[1] Only Greek Cypriots voted,[2] and the proposal was approved by 95.71% of those taking part; the result was never implemented.[1]
On 12 December 1949 Archbishop Makarios II had called on the British authorities to hold a referendum on the future of the island.[1] After they refused, the Church Council and the Enosis organisation organised a referendum.[1] Signature books were provided in churches between 15 and 22 January 1950.[1] The books had two columns, entitled "We demand union with Greece" and "We are against the union of Cyprus with Greece".[1]
| Choice | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| For | 215,108 | 95.71 | |
| Against | 9,639 | 4.29 | |
| Total | 224,747 | 100.00 | |
| Source: Direct Democracy | |||
After the referendum, the Church of Cyprus publicly admonished those who had voted against enosis. In the latter years of British rule in Cyprus, the Church sought to silence dissenting opinion among Greek Cypriots, sometimes by violent means.[3]
In February 2017 the Cypriot parliament voted in favour of commemorating the referendum in schools every year. The decision was received negatively by Turkish Cypriot politicians, causing talks between Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades and the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akıncı to be halted.[2]
