Niyazi Kizilyurek responds to criticism regarding comments on Isaac and Solomou murders

On August 21, 2026, academic and former MEP Niyazi Kizilyurek issued a public statement titled "A Due Response" to address the backlash following his previous remarks regarding the 1996 murders of Tassos Isaac and Solomos Solomou. The controversy arose after his comments drew criticism from various quarters, including a sharp response from Anastasia Isaac, who questioned his motives and his commitment to justice for the victims.

Kizilyurek stated that he is facing accusations of treason from far-right nationalist circles in the occupied areas, while citizens in the Republic of Cyprus have questioned his intentions. In his response, he clarified that he had condemned the murders as early as August 1996 in an article for the magazine "Solo". He also addressed criticisms regarding his stance on the 1974 Turkish invasion, referring to his 2016 book "A History of Violence and Resentment," in which he describes the invasion as an act of ethnic cleansing and accuses Turkey of violating guarantee agreements.

Highlighting his 35-year residency among the Greek Cypriot community and his academic career at the University of Cyprus, Kizilyurek stated that he intends to focus on constructive criticism and answering legitimate questions from the public.