The judge of the case on the attack on the Africa newspaper published in Northern Cyprus, resigned, explaining that the juridical process was a black mark on the history of the country.
Tacan Reynar announced his resignation on Facebook.
Reynar, the Judge of the Nicosia District Court said that “In the case of the attack on the newspaper Afrika the Supreme Court chose to be silent, without commenting on the news about the death threats I received and other news.”
On January 22, hundreds of protesters demonstrated outside the offices of "Afrika" that aroused the ire of Turkey's AKP government and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan by slamming Ankara's operation inside Syria as an "occupation".
Erdoğan had called Afrika "a cheap and nasty newspaper" that ran an "impertinent" headline and invited supporters to "give the necessary response to this."
Dozens of people shouting "Allahu Akbar!" smashed windows and hurled stones, eggs and other items at Afrika's office in Nicosia. A few tried to storm the first-floor office.
Announcing that he quits his duty as from May 24, judge Reynar underlined that all the institutions stayed silent to the pressure tried to be established on the court and the insults against him. Reynar was under the police protection during the case because of the death threats from social media. In the hearing held in February, the amount paid to the court by the defendant in order to cover the damage was brought by Mehmet Demirci, Cyprus representative of AKP party.
Demirci had said the newspaper had exceeded the limits of criticism.
Six people who were charged with 7 crimes regarding the events including the attack on the Afrika newspaper were sentenced to imprisonment for 2 to 6 months and they were released on parole in early May.
'ANKARA INTERVENING NORTHERN CYPRUS WITH MONEY THREAT'
In a press release published by Şener Elçil, Secretary General of Turkish Cypriot Teachers' Trade Union (KTÖS), it was stated that the Reynar's resignation due to Turkey’s intervention to the judicial is a breaking point. “The government of Ankara, which controls the legislative and executive authorities, makes all it wants with money threats,” said Elçil.
Stating that Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the police department, Central Bank have been tied to Turkey, he claimed that all of the movements were monitored and controlled over the internet. Noting that the schools shall also be tied to Turkey’s Ministry of National Education, Elçil said, "within the framework of activities to bind the north of Cyprus to Turkey, now button is pressed for the integration of judiciary to Turkey”.
Targeting statement of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for the newspaper Afrika and protection of the attackers with an extraordinary effort by the authorities of Turkey clearly shows this intervention” Elçil added.
