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May 09, 2025 – Turkey –
Ayşemden Akın, editor-in-chief of the Turkish Cypriot online newspaper Bugün Kıbrıs, is facing serious threats to her life following a series of investigative reports exposing alleged corruption and organized crime involving high-ranking officials in Turkey and the Turkish-occupied north of Cyprus. The situation escalated after her primary source, Cemil Önal, was assassinated in the Netherlands on May 1, 2025.
Akın’s investigative series, titled “Halil Falyalı Lives,” delved into the enduring influence of the late casino tycoon Halil Falyalı, who was murdered in 2022. In her reports, Akın highlighted allegations of money laundering, bribery, and blackmail involving Turkish and Turkish Cypriot officials. Cemil Önal, Falyalı’s former financial advisor, served as a key whistleblower, providing detailed accounts of these illicit activities. Before his death, Önal expressed fears for his safety, stating, “I am a black box. They will want to silence me.”
Following the publication of these reports, Akın received a threatening 27-minute phone call from a Turkish number. The caller warned her to cease her investigations, stating that three individuals had been dispatched to Cyprus to “do what’s necessary.” Despite reporting this threat to the Turkish Cypriot police, Akın criticized the authorities for their inadequate response, noting that promised protective measures were inconsistently applied and sometimes withdrawn without explanation.
The international community has expressed concern over Akın’s safety. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) urged authorities in Northern Cyprus to ensure her protection and to thoroughly investigate the threats against her. The Union of Cyprus Journalists also condemned the intimidation, emphasizing the need to safeguard press freedom and the rights of journalists to report on matters of public interest without fear.
In response to the threats against Akın, a group of Turkish Cypriot journalists gathered outside the police headquarters in the north to demand enhanced protection for their colleague. They called on the authorities to take immediate and effective action to ensure Akın’s safety and to uphold the principles of press freedom.
The assassination of Cemil Önal and the subsequent threats against Ayşemden Akın underscore the dangerous environment faced by journalists investigating corruption and organized crime in the region. These events highlight the urgent need for authorities to protect journalists and to hold accountable those who seek to silence them through intimidation and violence.
Reference –
Authorities must protect Turkish Cypriot journalist after source murdered in Netherlands: CPJ
