(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has expressed dismay over a decision by Cyprus to ban Turkish journalists based in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (recognised only by Turkey) from covering a football match on 26 July 2005. The match was between Turkish side Trabzonspor and Greek Cypriot team Anorthosis Famagusta. “We are dismayed at this decision […]
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has expressed dismay over a decision by Cyprus to ban Turkish journalists based in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (recognised only by Turkey) from covering a football match on 26 July 2005.
The match was between Turkish side Trabzonspor and Greek Cypriot team Anorthosis Famagusta.
“We are dismayed at this decision by Cyprus, a new European Union member since 1 May 2004, which is a clear violation of free access to information. The Turkish journalists were coming simply to cover a popular sports match between teams from Cyprus and Turkey,” RSF said. “It is unacceptable for journalists to be the targets of political blackmail, fomenting confrontation rather than reconciliation between the Greek and Turkish communities.”
Turkish journalists working in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus as correspondents for Turkish or Cypriot media who wish to travel to Cypriot territory for professional reasons must seek permission from Cyprus two days in advance.
All Turkish journalists who had applied for entry to cover the football match found themselves refused entry on 25 July. Turkish Cypriot journalists were able to cover the match without incident, however, since they are not subject to the same restrictions. They simply dispayed their identity cards to Greek Cypriot police at border control posts.
“We strongly condemn this obstruction to free access to Cypriot territory for Turkish journalists wanting to cover events there,” Kemal Darbaz, president of Basin Sen (Turkish Cypriot journalists’ union), said in a 25 July statement.
