The New Cyprus Party (YKP) reacted to the arrests of four youths accused of graffiti in the north of Cyprus this week. In early September, four Turkish Cypriot youths were arrested on suspicion of writing on walls and posting posters. One of those arrested is the son of Erol Seherlioglu , the president of Tip-Is and another one of them is the son of Tevfik Yoldas who is the president of DAU-Bir-Sen. Both unions are member organizations of the Cyprus Peace Platform. According to reports, the four youths were interrogated for up to 15 hours, their photos were taken while they were under arrest and a file was made on them as criminals and both their and their family’s houses were searched while nobody was at home. After the 15 hour interrogation the four young persons were released.

But on Monday 8th September further arrests followed, when four youths were arrested by claiming that they were caught “red-handed” as they were writing on walls. One of them is the son of Remzi Yektaoglu who is the member of YKP Party Council. Reports claim their houses were searched, computers were seized, and the youths were not allowed to contact with their lawyers or families. On 14th September there was a court trial for the second group preventing them from leaving the north of Cyprus.

YKP General Secretary of the Executive Committee, Murat Kanatli reacted to the incident: “It is certain that, these circumstances have created annoyance in some circles. “Especially on the 1st of September, the political environment, who saw the possibility of bi-communal mass demonstration, remembered their old habits, escaped from the society, hid behind the symbols and consoled about the importance of organizations from the south, which send representatives to their demonstrations.

“Also, the deep state has been annoyed by this process. “Thus, they punished the young persons who wrote their political demands, so as to give an oppressive message to the wider society,” said Kanatli.