Bar Association Head Says Detention of Greek Cypriot Couple ‘Disproportionate and Severe’

In a statement, Esendağlı said: “When the authorities of the Republic of Cyprus, without a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus issue, resort to criminal sanctions targeting Turkish Cypriots or individuals legally conducting business in the TRNC on the contentious property issue — one of the most critical aspects of the ongoing political dispute — there is no legal, justified, or humanitarian basis for such actions. We have repeatedly stated in every forum that until a solution is reached, the Immovable Property Commission is the effective mechanism for resolving property disputes.”

“Now the mirror has turned towards us,” Esendağlı continued. “Given the nature of the charges of trespassing on property, harassment, and obtaining personal data brought against the Greek Cypriot couple who appeared before the Famagusta District Court in İskele yesterday, the decision to remand them in custody appears disproportionate and severe.”

Esendağlı warned that “the arrest processes initiated in South Cyprus carry the risk of triggering dangerous reciprocal actions on both sides of the island,” adding, “Responding to unlawfulness with unlawfulness, or extremity with extremity, is not something we as legal professionals can defend.”

He also stressed: “Judicial processes in South Cyprus, conducted in cooperation between the Greek Cypriot leadership and the judiciary to target and harm individuals, will ultimately be condemned before international law. We must avoid giving the impression that we are embarking on the same path.”

Highlighting that such a perception could soon pose a threat to the legal security and freedom of movement of everyone living in Cyprus, Esendağlı warned that “the greatest harm from this will once again be suffered by Turkish Cypriots.”