Niyazi Kizilyurek issues apology for the 1996 murders of Tasos Isaac and Solomos Solomou

Niyazi Kizilyurek, a Turkish Cypriot academic and former Member of the European Parliament, has publicly apologized to Anastasia Isaac, the daughter of Tasos Isaac, regarding the 1996 killings of her father and Solomos Solomou in the Deryneia buffer zone. Kizilyurek expressed deep shame, describing the events as a state-sanctioned 'death ritual' and criticized the administration of Rauf Denktas for hosting the perpetrators after the crimes. He highlighted that these actions were part of a period of systemic violence that also included the assassination of journalist Kutlu Adali.

Anastasia Isaac responded to the apology, emphasizing that her primary concern is not a mere statement of regret but rather the pursuit of justice and accountability. She noted that individuals implicated in these murders were subsequently appointed to political offices by the Turkish Cypriot authorities. Isaac also referenced the murder of National Guard member Stelios Panagi that same summer, insisting that the collective duty of society should be to ensure the perpetrators face legal consequences rather than seeking symbolic gestures.