The unjust arrest attempts by the Greek Cypriot Administration were discussed at the European Council’s Legal and Human Rights Committee meeting.

Representing the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Parliament, National Unity Party (UBP) MP Oğuzhan Hasipoğlu emphasized the effectiveness of the Immovable Property Commission (IPC) as an effective domestic legal remedy.

During the meeting, a report presented by Greek Cypriot MP Constantinos Efstathiou on the role of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) and its members in ensuring the effective and timely implementation of European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) decisions was debated.

Addressing the meeting, Hasipoğlu stressed that politicians should not influence the decision-making and execution processes.

He criticized the Greek Cypriot administration for politicizing the issue through recent arrests.

Hasipoğlu pointed out that the arrests by the Greek Cypriot Administration conflicted with property decisions made by the IPC, which he added the ECHR recognized as an effective domestic legal remedy.

He called for an immediate investigation by the ECHR and PACE against the Greek Cypriot administration.

Furthermore, Hasipoğlu announced his intention to initiate an inquiry within the Legal and Human Rights Committee, of which he is a member.

He highlighted that while the ECHR recognizes the Immovable Property Commission as an internal legal mechanism for resolving property issues in Cyprus, the European Council should not permit the Greek Cypriot administration, a member state, to impose liberty-restricting measures on individuals over disputed properties in the north.

Hasipoğlu also criticized the Greek Cypriot administration for expropriating properties belonging to Turkish Cypriots in the south without compensation, leasing them without permission, and restricting property rights.

He brought this double standard to the attention of the Legal and Human Rights Committee, the most relevant committee within the ECHR, and emphasized his commitment to closely monitoring the issue.