We strongly condemn the discriminatory and arbitrary treatment to which Mr. Ali Ruhluel, Joint Member of the Board of Directors of the TRNC Foreign Press Association and cameraman at the Nicosia Bureau of Anadolu Agency, was subjected in Southern Cyprus, and we extend our sincere wishes for his well-being.
While carrying out his professional duties in Limassol alongside journalists from other countries, Mr. Ruhluel was detained and questioned for approximately two hours by the Greek Cypriot police without any substantiated justification. This incident constitutes a clear infringement upon freedom of the press. At a time when Greek Cypriot, Greek and British journalists were able to continue their professional activities freely in the same area, the targeting and detention of a Turkish journalist on the basis of his ethnic identity represents an unacceptable act of discrimination and a blatant display of double standards.
We call upon the Greek Cypriot administration, which has demonstrated an unlawful and unjustifiable approach toward a journalist seeking the truth, to refrain from such arbitrary and discriminatory practices and to fully respect universal legal principles and press freedom.