The Bicommunal Peace Initiative, United Cyprus has raised freedom of expression concerns after Selma Eylem was asked by a police officer in the north to provide a statement about remarks made during a meeting with the UN secretary-general.
In a letter to António Guterres, the group warned that the incident could discourage civil society participation as efforts continue to break the deadlock in the Cyprus problem.
Meeting with the UN secretary-general
Eylem represented the initiative at a meeting between civil society representatives and Guterres on 28 July, during his visit to Cyprus.
In her brief intervention, she stressed the urgency of reaching a settlement and raised concerns about demographic changes in the Turkish Cypriot community, pressures affecting its identity and character, and what she described as an erosion of its political will.
Eylem also handed Guterres a joint statement from the initiative, signed by 108 organisations.
Police request for a statement
In the days that followed, Eylem faced significant criticism and personal attacks from some media outlets and on social media in response to the views she had expressed, the initiative said.
On 13 August, a sergeant from the Turkish Cypriot “police” contacted her and asked her to appear and give a statement concerning her remarks during the meeting with Guterres.
When Eylem asked whether a complaint had been lodged or a specific offence had been committed, she was told that neither was the case. The officer nevertheless referred to an “official document” and again asked her to attend.
After consulting her lawyer, Eylem did not appear, the announcement said.
Concerns over freedom of expression
In its letter to Guterres, the initiative said freedom of expression necessarily includes the right to voice strong and, at times, controversial political opinions.
“Our concern relates to the fact that a civil society representative who participated in a consultation convened by the United Nations Secretary-General was subsequently called by the police in connection with what she said during that consultation, particularly when, according to what she was told, there was neither a complaint nor a specific offence,” it said.
The initiative warned that the incident risked creating “a climate that deters civil society participation, precisely at a time when an open and inclusive environment is needed to support renewed efforts to reach a settlement of the Cyprus problem”.
It asked Guterres’ office to raise the matter with Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman and underline the importance of protecting civil society representatives and their freedom of expression.
“We believe that those participating in the peace process must be able to express their views freely, including on sensitive and controversial issues, without the threat of intimidation or retaliation,” it said.
Appeal to Erhürman
The initiative said it remained fully committed to supporting Guterres’ efforts to overcome the current deadlock and to helping create the conditions for a comprehensive and lasting settlement in Cyprus.
“The protection of the freedom and safety of civil society representatives is an essential part of that effort,” it added.
In its initial statement, the initiative acknowledged that the “police” fall under the authority of the Turkish Cypriot “government”. It nevertheless called on Erhürman to exercise his “constitutional rights” by investigating the police action and taking measures to protect “political rights”.
It also urged civil society organisations and other interested parties to stand with Eylem, saying that doing so would help protect the rights of all.
Source: CNA
