Philenews

The Conscious Distortion of Truth and the Normalization of the Monstrous

Published February 22, 2026, 12:13
The Conscious Distortion of Truth and the Normalization of the Monstrous

The author strongly criticizes the attempt by some to present the positions of Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman as compatible with reunification, while in reality they support a two-state solution. He points out that the conscious distortion of truth normalizes the monstrous, namely the occupation and illegal settlement. The author refers to comments by President Christodoulides regarding Erhurman's statements and the reaction of his supporters, who tried to explain that Erhurman's positions lead to reunification. The author believes that these interpretations are cerebral acrobatics that cannot be understood by common sense. The author quotes academic Kostas Gouliamos, who states that the removal of words such as “invasion,” “occupation,” and “settlement” from the political lexicon aims to accept the perpetrator and legitimize his narrative. In this way, the monstrous is normalized. The author concludes that some experts on the Cyprus issue have been persuaded to normalize the positions of the Turkish side, even when they are monstrous, and that when someone comments on these positions, they are considered the enemy and not the occupier.