Three Cypriot Journalists On Trial For Jeopardizing Relations With Turkey

Three journalists from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) will be tried in the case filed by TRNC’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Turgay Avcı for “casting a shadow over the good relations between the TRNC and Turkey.

Journalist Başaran Düzgün is on trial for his article published on Cyprus Daily on April 16, 2007. In addition to him, former managing director Süleyman Ergüçlü and representative of the Cyprus Media Company Fehim Nevzat will be tried as well for publishing the said article. The journalists may be punished with a prison sentence or a fine.

Using the expression “Devil” for Sezer sent them to court

On October 24, the Lefkoşa (Nicosia) Court announced that the three journalists were going to be tried on November 28. Journalist Düzgün had looked into the messages given during the meetings between the TRNC’s Minister of Interior Özkan Murat and former Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer.

The journalist had ended his article with the statement “I wish good luck to Mr. Sezer in his retirement. Turkey evaded the devil and so did the Northern Cypriots…” (EÖ/TB)