After two and a half years of ordeal in the prisons and courts of Cyprus and Germany, Kurdish political refugee Kenan Ayaz returned to Cyprus yesterday. He was taken directly from the airport to the Central Prison to serve the remainder of the sentence imposed by the Germans, who tried him as a terrorist and imprisoned him without proving any criminal act against him.
Ayaz had lived in Cyprus for ten years as a recognised political refugee, without once drawing the authorities’ attention for any offence. However, he was handed over to the German authorities because Turkey declared him a terrorist—the same Turkey that tortured him for years in its own prisons. Now the Cypriot authorities must treat him honourably and not keep him in prison a single day longer than necessary. He has suffered enough years of torture in Turkey and Germany. He could be released under conditions for the remainder of the sentence imposed by the Germans.
Tomorrow, at 6pm, a solidarity gathering for the Kurdish activist will take place outside the Central Prison.
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