KTOEÖS: Democratic Spaces and Freedoms Under Threat in Northern Cyprus

In a statement, KTOEÖS claimed that “a restrictive regime, encroaching on every institution, every space, and every aspect of our will, is accelerating efforts to eliminate democracy and freedoms in the north of the island, attempting to replicate whatever exists in the south.”

Signed by KTOEÖS President Selma Eylem on behalf of the board, the statement highlighted the plight of five elderly individuals held as “political prisoners” in Northern Cyprus. The union alleged that their health issues are being ignored and that they are subjected to inhumane treatment in courts and prison conditions. The statement read: “These individuals, who repeatedly visited their ancestral lands and were stopped by police vehicles after their last visit, have been handcuffed and detained despite no wrongdoing. Compared to arrests in the south, these five political prisoners continue to suffer while their health concerns are neglected and they endure inhumane treatment in courts and prison corners.”

KTOEÖS further accused the ruling AKP in Turkey of taking steps that threaten judicial independence in Northern Cyprus. “These measures reveal that the encroachment threatens judicial independence, as well as the independence and freedoms in all areas. Internationally recognized institutions and decisions are disregarded and ignored, indicating a move toward a new regime in the north, concretized through structures such as the külliye,” the statement read.

The union also criticized long-standing policies of “population transfers,” “systematic assimilation and integration,” and “regressive steps” in economic, political, social, cultural, and educational spheres, which it said threaten the Turkish Cypriot community’s will, identity, language, religion, culture, and existence. Turkey’s policies in Northern Cyprus and unilateral decisions by the Greek Cypriot administration were also condemned.

KTOEÖS called on international actors to recognize and support Turkish Cypriots’ demands for independence and freedom. “Turkish Cypriots must raise their demands for independence and freedom. The international community must not remain silent, should play an active role in the Cyprus solution, and act to end separatist and fascist decisions and detentions, remove barriers, and bring peace to our island without further delay,” the union stated.