Turkish Cypriot journalist and publisher of the newspaper “Avrupa (Europe)” Sener Levent, facing a ten-day ultimatum to surrender to Turkish authorities to serve a one-year prison sentence imposed by a court in Ankara, has pledged never to surrender to fascism.
In an exclusive interview to the Cyprus News Agency (CNA), Levent reaffirmed his firm stance that he will not surrender, describing the decision as an act by the “occupying power” and launching strong criticism of the justice system in Turkey. “I never surrendered to fascism and I will not do so now. If they want, they can arrest me”, he said.
Levent’s firm statement comes at a time when reactions and concerns within the Turkish Cypriot community are intense, following the official notification of the Turkish court’s decision, which imposes a prison term of one year and demands his surrender within ten days.
He has been targeted since 2018
Levent told CNA that the recent development represents the culmination of a series of legal persecutions begun against him in Turkey. “When did this process start? After January 22, 2018,” he notes, referring to it as a chain of events. “A case over a cartoon had reached the ‘courts’ here, initiated by the Turkish embassy and with a lawsuit filed by (President) Tayip Erdogan. But in our ‘court,’ we won that case. We won that case here. However, Erdogan transferred it to Ankara”.
According to Levent, the process in Turkey took on a completely different character. “I was tried in absentia in Ankara. And I was sentenced to one year in prison,” he explained. But the story did not stop there. “Then, another trial was opened for a different article I wrote, and I was sentenced to another year in prison from there. Later, a third trial was opened for another article, and I was sentenced to six months in prison from there”.
The latest communication he received concerns the finalisation of the last sentence. “They told me initially that I was sentenced to six months. Since I did not appeal, the sentence has become final. And now, it has been increased to 12 months”.
Sener Levent firmly states that he will not abide with the decision and explains the reasons, which are both legal and deeply political. “In Turkey, justice has been nullified. Completely nullified. It has been to Erdogan”, he said, directly questioning the legality and independence of the Turkish judicial system.
“I will not accept the decision,” says Levent
Outlining his stance on the issue, Levent states that recognising this ruling would be an insult to all the unjustly imprisoned in Turkey. “To accept this decision myself, as a Cypriot, wouldn’t that be an injustice to all the other friends, the other people who are detained unfairly there? I do not believe that Selahattin Demirtaş, Osman Kavala, or Figen Yuksekdag are being held justly. All of this is a form of terrorism; it is the result of the regime of a single individual”.
Furthermore, Levent raises serious legal issues concerning the process.
“A trial in absentia is invalid; it cannot be accepted according to our laws. It is a trial where no defence was even made”, he emphasises. Referring to the “mutual legal assistance” agreement between Turkey and the illegal regime in the Turkish occupied north, which Turkish authorities cite, he describes it as “unilateral”.
“It operates unilaterally. The regime here issues orders to Turkey for individuals. However, Turkey has never extradited people sought here in the occupied areas of Cyprus. Such extraditions have never happened from Turkey to Cyprus.”
I am not asking for asylum
Rejecting outright rumours that he is considering moving to the government controlled areas of the Republic to avoid arrest, he emphasises: “No, definitely not. I have no intention of going anywhere else to seek asylum. I will stay here, in my country, in my home”.
The veteran journalist views his case as another proof of the true nature of relations between Turkey and the occupied areas.
“What is happening clearly and plainly proves that Turkey is an occupying power. This is a new example. We have been under the occupation and military administration of Turkey since 1974. This country is a colony of Turkey, a protectorate. And we are its hostages”.
His message to the Turkish authorities is non-negotiable. “They are calling me to surrender, right? I will not surrender. I will not surrender, as I also wrote today in the newspaper. I did not submit to fascism in the past, and I will not now. If they want, they can arrest me. For me, this decision by the Ankara court does not exist”.
Levent expressed his gratitude for the support he receives from the Greek Cypriot community, political parties, the Union of Cyprus Journalists, and the European Parliament, where, as he was informed, his case will be discussed. He underlined the importance of internationalizing his situation.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.
On 15 November 1983, nine years after the Turkish invasion of the island, Turkey instigated and endorsed a “unilateral declaration of independence” in Cyprus’ occupied areas, announced by the Turkish Cypriot leadership. The United Nations Security Council with Resolutions 541 and 550 calls upon all States to respect the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, unity and non-alignment of the Republic of Cyprus. They also describe the UDI as “legally invalid.”
The illegal secessionist entity in the occupied area of Cyprus is recognized only by Turkey.
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Source: CNA/NS