A campaign against the Republic of Cyprus targeting President Christodoulides has been launched by the Aykout family in Israel and the United States.
Posters appearing across Israel show President Christodoulides with Hebrew text stating: “Cyprus is dangerous for Israelis.”
Jack Afik Aykout sent a letter dated April 4, 2025, to the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organisations urging them to boycott President Christodoulides during his US visit last week, due to the ongoing prosecution of his father, Shimon Mistriel Aykout over an alleged land usurpation case in occupied north Cyprus.
“We urge you to spread a broad call to all organisations and businesses, and to anyone who opposes anti-Semitism and hatred of Jews, to boycott any meeting with him,” Jack Aykout wrote.
In the letter, Aykout claims President Christodoulides “is currently holding Mr. Shimon Aykout, a 75 year old Israeli Jew with cancer, hostage for 9 months without trial and refuses to release him.”
The letter states: “Mr. Aykout is a law-abiding person who has committed no crime. Mr. Aykout’s alleged crime is being the father of a developer who has built homes in ‘Northern Cyprus’, a land occupied by Turkey for over 50 years in attempt to hold him accountable for claims against Turkey.”
Aykout further alleges that “President Christodoulides has been approached multiple times by President Herzog of Israel as well as by the Secretary General of the UN advocating for his release only to be rebuffed.”
“Please do not allow meetings of Jewish bodies with an anti-Semitic and abusive leader!!,” the letter adds.
Despite the boycott attempt, President Christodoulides held meetings with Jewish organisations during his US visit.
What is the case against Aykout?
Israeli-Turkish property developer Shimon Mistriel Aykout is facing 242 criminal charges in Cyprus, including allegations of fraudulent property transactions, illegal possession and use of land, conspiracy to defraud, and money laundering. The charges pertain to the alleged expropriation and development of over 60 plots of land owned by Greek Cypriots in the Turkish-occupied northern part of the island.
Aykout, 75, was arrested in June 2024 while attempting to enter the Republic of Cyprus from the occupied north. He has been in custody since, with the Nicosia Criminal Court rejecting his bail applications, citing insufficient evidence of health issues that would warrant release.
The prosecution has amended 102 of the charges to include official land valuations, with the total value of the disputed properties estimated at €50 million. The properties are located in the Famagusta and Kyrenia districts and were allegedly developed without the consent of the rightful owners.
Aykout’s company, Afik Group, is reported to have undertaken or planned at least eight development projects in the occupied north, including the “Caesar Project,” which encompasses several large-scale residential and tourist complexes.
In response to the criminal proceedings, Aykout and his son, Afik Yakov, have filed lawsuits against the President of Cyprus and the Republic, seeking hundreds of millions of euros in compensation. They argue that the legal actions against them violate a 1998 bilateral investment agreement between Cyprus and Israel.
The defence has requested written assurances from the Attorney General that defence witnesses will be granted immunity from prosecution, a request that remains under consideration.
The trial is ongoing, with the next hearing scheduled for May 2, 2025.
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