A coalition of Cypriots, among them a European parliamentarian, have filed a criminal complaint against Turkish government officials in the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, on Monday.

The petitioners call on the ICC prosecutor to open an investigation into ongoing Turkish crimes on the territory of the Republic of Cyprus, and in particular, the continued growth of Turkish settlements in the occupied territory, a press release said.

The Turkish occupation is one of the most brazen settlement enterprises in modern times, as colonists from the Turkish mainland now constitute as much as half the population of the occupied territory, it was noted.

The complainants are Cypriot MEP Kostas Mavrides and Cypriots Against Turkish War Crimes (CATWR), an association of mainly Cypriots and refugees from the Turkish invasion of Cyprus.

“This unprecedented demand for a war crimes investigation seeks to end the impunity Turkey has enjoyed for its criminal conduct since it invaded the island Republic on July 20, 1974. Turkey`s settlement activity in northern Cyprus is well-documented, having been recognized by the European Court of Human Rights and the United Nations. Yet despite this, and despite its occupation of an EU member state, Turkey and its leaders have avoided any legal consequences for their crimes” the press release noted.

It was stressed that the complaint demonstrates that Turkey is in blatant and systematic violation of Art. 8(2)(b)(viii) of the Court`s Statute, which prohibits an occupying power from directly or indirectly transferring its civilians into the occupied territory.

Turkey has continuously since the invasion, recruited, encouraged and transported Turks from rural areas of the mainland to come settle the occupied territory. The demographic magnitude of the settler establishment threatens the feasibility of a mutually-acceptable end to the conflict.

MEP Kostas Mavrides notes that “the settlement and other crimes committed in the occupied part of Cyprus by Turkish officers is not a political issue. It is a matter of international law and justice” adding that “now, it is up to the ICC to investigate the facts and decide in favour of civilization and human rights”.

Cyprus has been a member of the Court since its establishment in 2002. No nation recognizes the legitimacy of sovereignty of the Turkish occupation regime in northern Cyprus. Thus, according to the press release, the ICC clearly has jurisdiction over the war crimes committed by the Turkish government in the occupied territory.

Cyprus has been divided since the Turkish military invasion in the summer of 1974. A fresh round of UN-led talks, aiming to reunite the island under a federal roof, began after the joint statement issued by Anastasiades and Eroglu.