Niyazi Kizilyurek issues public apology for 1996 Cyprus killings

Former AKEL Member of the European Parliament, Niyazi Kizilyurek, has issued a public apology to Anastasia, the daughter of Tasos Isaac, for the murders of her father and Solomos Solomou in 1996. Reflecting on the events of that summer, Kizilyurek described the actions as a state-sponsored "ritual of death" organized by the authorities of the unrecognized northern entity. He expressed deep personal shame, noting that his conscience was troubled by the violence committed in the name of the Turkish Cypriot community.

Kizilyurek highlighted the climate of intimidation during the 1996 protests, mentioning that local journalists were warned by occupation authorities against documenting the atrocities. He connected these killings to the broader context of violence, including the earlier murder of journalist Kutlu Adali. This gesture of accountability comes decades later, serving as an acknowledgement of the trauma inflicted on the victims' families and a critical reflection on the history of the conflict.

While Reporter notes that Kizilyurek was involved in the events of 1996, his own statement emphasizes his role as a witness to the state's actions rather than a perpetrator. The apology stands as a rare act of political and personal contrition regarding one of the most painful chapters in modern Cypriot history.