The queen had signed the execution order for Greek Cypriot patriots, despite the calls to stop the executions. The executions were part of the British effort to stop the revolution against the colonial rule, as the island was Greek and its inhabitants asked for unification with motherland (Enosis). GB had made promises from time to time, but refused to actually allow the discussion of such a development, and instead prefered to support the idea of giving the island back to Turkey (GB had bought the island from the Ottoman occupation).