The Board of Directors of the Union of Cyprus Journalists (EKΣ) has expressed deep concern for the safety of Turkish Cypriot journalist Ayşemden Akın, who has recently received death threats.
According to a statement by the UCJ, Turkish Cypriot investigative journalist Akın, head of the online newspaper Bugün Kıbrıs, was recently threatened in connection with a major investigation she conducted. Her reporting allegedly exposed corruption and collusion between Turkey and the occupied areas of Cyprus.
“The Union stands in solidarity with her and calls on all defenders of freedom of expression and press freedom — not only in our country but also in pan-European and international forums — to express their support and stand by Ayşemden Akın at this difficult moment in her journalistic career,” the statement added.
The situation, the Union notes, is seriously concerning. “In Ms Akın’s reports, there were references to the involvement of senior Turkish officials in illegal activities in the occupied north. Cemil Onal, one of the sources of the Turkish Cypriot journalist, was murdered last week in the Netherlands,” it pointed out.
“The Union of Cyprus Journalists joins its voice with the Turkish Cypriot press workers’ union Basın-Sen, denouncing and condemning yet another attempt to silence the media and journalists in the occupied part of our homeland,” the statement concluded.
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Source: CNA
