The communication is being filed by the Hon. Kostas Mavrides, a member of the European Parliament from Cyprus and Cypriots Against Turkish War Crimes (CATWR), an association of mainly Cypriots and refugees from the Turkish invasion of the Republic of Cyprus.
The Shurat HaDin Law Center assisted in researching and drafting the complaint.
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.
An
investigation by the Court's prosecutor would be the first attempt to
shine the harsh light of international criminal justice on the Turkish
occupation. 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.
According to MEP Kostas Mavrides : "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. 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, the ICC clearly has jurisdiction over the war crimes committed by the Turkish government in the occupied territory.
CATWR is represented by Athan Tsimpedes based in Washington DC, who has initiated a lawsuit against the illegal occupation in the US Courts.
To view the communication CLICK HERE
RELATED LINKS
http://www.israellawcenter.org
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