Two Turkish Cypriots were reportedly arrested at Cyprus’ independence day parade for holding aloft a banner which read “Republic of Cyprus: the only solution”.
According to reports, the pair unfurled the banner at the parade and were informed by police that displaying banners with political content at the parade is prohibited.
However, they reportedly refused to take the banner down, and as such were arrested.
The Cyprus Mail attempted to contact the police to verify the reports but the police did not respond.
The reported banner had been visible on social media throughout Monday and Tuesday, with its most high profile sharer having been Turkish Cypriot former European parliament elections candidate Oz Karahan.
Karahan, who had been a candidate with the Green Party, had shared a digital image matching the reported description, and a link to a petition created by the “pan-Cyprian mobilisation for the freedom of Cyprus”.
The petition demands a solution to the Cyprus problem through various means, including “initiating a global boycott and sanction campaign against Turkey for its war crimes and violations of human rights in Cyprus”.
A banner matching the description of that which was reportedly unfurled at the parade
