Attack on Turkish Cypriot in Ayia Napa: Reactions from the north
A violent attack on a 47-year-old Turkish Cypriot in Ayia Napa has caused political uproar in the occupied territories, with officials calling for transparency in the investigation.
Attack on Turkish Cypriot in Ayia Napa: Reactions from the north
A serious incident of violence occurred in Ayia Napa, where unknown assailants attacked a 47-year-old Turkish Cypriot. The victim is hospitalised on a ventilator at Nicosia General Hospital, with his condition deemed critical.
From the moment the incident became known, the Turkish Cypriot side proceeded to make contact with multiple bodies. Leader Tufan Erhiurman stated in a public statement that there had been immediate communication with the bicommunal committee, the local "authorities" as well as officials of the Republic of Cyprus. He expressed wishes for the victim's speedy recovery and pledged to inform the public should new information emerge.
Forceful was the reaction of "Prime Minister" Ünal Üstel, who characterised every form of violent attack as condemnable. In his statements, he emphasised that if the motives behind the assault are linked to nationalist hatred against the Turkish Cypriot community, then the incident goes beyond the bounds of a simple criminal offence. He characterised it as a punishable act of hatred that damages social cohesion, the will for peaceful coexistence, and fundamental human values.
Üstel also underlined that the authorities of the southern part of the island are obliged to identify the perpetrators and bring them before the courts. He demanded that the investigation be conducted with absolute transparency and effectiveness, without any attempt to conceal the facts.
Similar was the statement by "Tourism Minister" Fikri Ataoğlu, who deemed it unacceptable that someone should become the target of intense violence because of their national identity, language, or origin. As he stated, such actions constitute a danger not only for the specific person but also for social peace and the culture of coexistence.
The leader of the People's Party, Kudret Özersay, through a post on social media expressed his sadness about the incident. He noted that the victim's health remains precarious and that the discovery and punishment of those responsible is a matter of the highest priority in order to prevent similar future incidents.
As reported by the newspaper Politis, the Cypriot authorities have arrested three young people aged 18 in connection with the case, whilst investigations are ongoing.
Source: Politis