AKEL denounces the new incident seeking to impose silence on dissenting voices in the occupied territories, on the pretext of the beginning of the “trial” of the journalist of the newspaper “Ozgur” Ali Kismir, who is in danger of being sentenced to many years of imprisonment.

The new “trial” has been initiated by the Security Forces in the occupied territories, under the pretext of an article written by Kismir which was critical of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot right. This incident is not unrelated to the increasing imposition of silence both in both Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot community on all those voices questioning the Turkish government.

AKEL expresses its solidarity with Ali Kismir and all Turkish Cypriots who are threatened, whether directly or indirectly, because of their political position. The persecution of Kismir is a flagrant violation of the right to freedom of expression.

AKEL will proceed to take actions so that the issue is raised and brought to an international level too with the aim of vindicating Ali Kismir.