Human rights in Northern Cyprus are protected by the constitution of Northern Cyprus.The Constitution of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Article 30, Retrieved 2011-05-05: "Yasa, insan haklarına, demokrasi, sosyal adalet ve hukukun üstünlüğü ilkelerine dayanan laik devletin, ulusal güvenliğin ve genel ahlakın korunması halleri dışındaki bir dene dayanarak, halkın bu araçlarla Haber almasını, düşünce ve kanaatlara ulaşmasını ve kamuoyunun serbestçe oluşumunu engelleyici kayıtlar koyamaz". However, there have been reports of violations of the human rights of minorities, democratic freedom, freedom from discrimination, freedom from torture, freedom of movement, freedom of religion, freedom of speech, right to education, right to life, right to property, and the rights of displaced persons.European Commission of Human Rights, "Report of the Commission to Applications 6780/74 and 6950/75", Council of Europe, 1976, pp. 160–163., Link from Internet ArchiveEuropean Court of Human Rights, Grand Chamber, Case of Cyprus v. Turkey, Application no. 25781/94, Judgement (Just Satisfaction), May 12, 2014,Cyprus v. Turkey, Application No. 25781/94, Judgment (Just Satisfaction, Grand Chamber, 12/05/2014 The rights of Greek Cypriots displaced by the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus, notably their rights to property and right of return, is one of the focal points of ongoing negotiations for the solution of the Cyprus question.
According to a United States Department of State Country Report of 2001, human rights were generally respected, although problems existed in terms of police activities, and the restriction of movement. In January 2011, The Report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the question of Human Rights in Cyprus noted that the ongoing division of Cyprus continues to affect human rights throughout the island "... including freedom of movement, human rights pertaining to the question of missing persons, discrimination, the right to life, freedom of religion, and economic, social and cultural rights."Report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the question of human rights in Cyprus 16th Session, Human Rights Council, United Nations, 7 January 2011
Freedoms
Democratic freedom Freedom House has classified the perceived level of democratic and political freedom in Northern Cyprus as "free" since 2000 in its Freedom in the World report.Freedom in the World 2011 Report Freedom House's Freedom in the World 2011 Report, page 29 In January 2024, Freedom House again classified Northern Cyprus as "free" in both political rights and civil liberties.Freedom in the World 2024, Freedom House, January 2014. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
In January 2009, the Turkish Cypriot Human Rights Foundation reported that: "Greek Cypriots and Maronite residents [of Northern Cyprus] are prohibited from participating in Turkish Cypriot "national" elections."Overview of the Human Rights Situation in North Cyprus Turkish Cypriot Human Rights Foundation The US Department of State also recorded that "Greek Cypriots and Maronite residents were prohibited from participating in Turkish Cypriot "national" elections; they were eligible to vote in Greek Cypriot elections but had to travel to the government-controlled area to exercise that right." It also reported that the elections in Northern Cyprus in 2009 and 2010 were free and fair and that "authorities did not restrict the political opposition, and membership or non-membership in the dominant party did not confer formal advantages or disadvantages"."2010 Human Rights Report: Cyprus", US Department of State, Retrieved 24 April 2011.
Freedom from torture In January 2009, the Turkish Cypriot Human Rights Foundation (TCHRF), acknowledged that: "Torture and inhuman treatment cases by the police are frequently reported and lawyers and the TCHRF are pressing authorities to truly investigate them."
Freedom of religion
The constitution of Northern Cyprus protects the freedom of religion, and it states that Northern Cyprus is a secular state.The Constitution of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Articles 23 and 30, Retrieved 2011-04-24. The US Department of State report in 2002 stated that religious freedom was protected by law in Northern Cyprus and the government generally respected the freedom of religion.2002 Report on Human Rights in Cyprus, US Department of State, retrieved on April 21, 2011. The freedom of religion report in 2007 by US Department of State also stated that "Turkish Cypriot authorities generally respected this right in practice" and the practice of religion was generally free.Cyprus International Religious Freedom Report 2007 - Cyprus, US Department of State, Retrieved 2011-04-24. In 2009, Minority Rights Group International also reported that "Turkish Cypriot authorities respected religious freedom in general."Cyprus Overview, Minority Rights Group International, Retrieved April 21, 2011.
On 27 January 2011, 68 representatives in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, in written declaration no. 467, condemned the: "Interruption of the Christmas mass in the northern occupied part of Cyprus by Turkish troops and restrictions to the right to freedom of religion and worship."Interruption of the Christmas mass in the northern occupied part of Cyprus by Turkish troops and restrictions to the right to freedom of religion and worship Written Declaration No. 467, Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Doc. 12505, 27 January 2011. Where it was noted that Turkish troops forced the priest conducting the service at Agios Synesios, in Rizokarpaso, to remove his vestments and ordered everybody to leave the church thus violating the European Convention on Human Rights.Northern Cyprus Commission on Security & Cooperation in Europe, Senate, 25 January 2011.
Freedom of speech and of the press
On 6 July 1996, the Committee to Protect Journalists reported that, Kutlu Adali, a journalist of the newspaper Yeni Duzen, was fatally shot outside his home. He had criticised the government's immigration policies.Kutlu Adali Committee to Protect Journalists, 6 July 1996. Adali's wife went to court at the European Court of Human Rights as a result of the failure of the Northern Cyprus authorities to investigate her husband's murder adequately.Adali v. Turkey Netherlands Institute of Human Rights, 31 March 2005.
The US Department of State report in 2002 stated that freedom of speech and press was generally respected in Northern Cyprus and there were opposition newspapers which often criticized the government.2002 Report on Human Rights in Cyprus, US Department of State, Retrieved on April 21, 2011.
World Press Freedom Index 2010 ranked Cyprus and Northern Cyprus 45 and 61 respectively.World Press Freedom Index 2010 , Reporters Without Borders. Also, in 2010, the US Department of State reported that the freedom of press was again generally respected, there were no restrictions on the internet, and the independent media were active and expressed a wide variety of views without restriction.
In April 2011, the International News Safety Institute reported that, Mutlu Esendemir, the news editor for the Turkish-Cypriot television channel Kanal T, and a reporter for the Turkish-language newspaper Kıbrıs, were both injured in a car bomb.Car bomb injures Cypriot journalist International News Safety Institute, 15 April 2011. Esendemir was convinced that the attack was related to articles concerning town planning issues in Kyrenia. Kemal Darbaz, the president of Basin Sen, the journalist association, noted that attacks against journalists had become more common.
Rights
Right to education During the 2004/5 school year, a gymnasium, adding to the only Greek Cypriot primary school in Northern Cyprus, was opened for the Greek Cypriot community in Rizokarpaso, this was the first Greek Cypriot community secondary school available to the community since the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974.Annual Report 2008 of the Ministry of Education, p. 276 , Republic of Cyprus Ministry of Education, 2008.In the same school year a nursery school was also opened for the Greek Cypriot community Teaching tolerance, Northern Cyprus hosts first Greek-language schools in three decades , Kathimerini newspaper, 9 March 2005.
In 2008, the Cypriot Financial Mirror newspaper has recorded that, the government of Northern Cyprus had prevented schoolteachers from returning to the primary school in Rizokarpaso.School year begins in Cyprus primary education, Financial Mirror, 4 September 2008.
In 2010, US Department of State reported that "there were no recorded cases of official or societal discrimination based on [...] access to education".
Rights of LGBT
Sexual intercourse between consenting adult females is legal in Northern Cyprus.State-sponsored Homophobia, A world survey of laws prohibiting same sex activity between consenting adults, by Daniel Ottoson , The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association, May 2010. Male homosexuality was still criminalised in Northern Cyprus until January 2014, while anti-homosexuality legislation formerly in effect in the Republic of Cyprus was repealed following a 1993 ruling by the European Court of Human Rights (Modinos v. Cyprus).
On 27 January 2014 Turkish Cypriot deputies passed an amendment repealing a colonial-era law that punished homosexual acts with up to five years in prison by a new Criminal Code. It was the last territory in Europe to decriminalise sexual relations between consenting, adult men. In response to the vote, Paulo Corte-Real from the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association, a rights advocacy group said that "We welcome today's vote and can finally call Europe a continent completely free from laws criminalising homosexuality".
Rights of minorities In 2008, a synagogue was opened in Kyrenia for the small Jewish community in Northern Cyprus which mostly comprises non-resident businesspersons. There have been no reported Anti-Semitic attacks.
The tiny Greek and Maronite minority communities live in enclaves and suffer from social and economic disadvantages. The small Kurdish population is reportedly subject to discrimination in employment. Both groups have complained of surveillance by Northern Cyprus authorities.
Rights of women The law of Northern Cyprus prohibits domestic violence under a general assault/violence/battery clause in the criminal code, although a separate domestic violence legislation has not yet been passed in Northern Cyprus.Cyprus Human Rights Practices, 1995: Discrimination Based on Race, Sex, Religion, Disability, Language, or Social Status Hellenic Resources network, U.S. Department of State, March 1996. In January 2009, the Turkish Cypriot Human Rights Foundation, noted that women do not have equal rights as men, nor do they live in similar conditions as men, especially when married. Women are prevented from enjoying their rights by the patriarchal society. A US Department of State report in 2010 indicated that although authorities handled and prosecuted rape cases effectively, violence against women was an issue and there were no NGOs to support victims of rape.
History
Issues pertaining to the Cyprus problem