Turkish Cypriot union Basin – Sen has made representations to the International and the European Federations of Journalists, as well as to Harlem Désir, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, following Ankara’s reaction to a sketch of Turkish President Erdogan published by “Africa” newspaper in the Turkish occupied part of Cyprus.

Basin-Sen’s letter says that “a lynch campaign has been initiated by Ankara against ‘Afrika’ newspaper” because of the sketch, originally published by a Greek newspaper after Erdogan`s visit to Athens.

“The freedom of thought and expression in the northern part of Cyprus has been disregarded because of this published visual” Basin-Sen adds.

It notes that a number of associations and organizations with no Cypriot members have threatened the newspaper and have demanded that “Africa” is no longer published.

“The tension about the situation has moved further up with the rising voice from Ankara. Recep Akdağ, Turkey`s Deputy Prime Minister, also responsible for Cyprus, openly insulted the ‘Afrika’ newspaper and his authors, saying that he would personally deal with the issue in order to punish the newspaper and the authors” Basin-Sen says.

“This attitude of Akdağ clearly shows who is in control of the northern part of Cyprus” it notes, adding that Ankara wants to “put press freedom behind bars as in Turkey”.

The Union of Cyprus Journalists has also made representations over the issue.