Kenan Ayaz has remained in the Central Prisons of Cyprus since 3 September, despite being recognised as a political refugee by the Republic of Cyprus. His case continues to attract attention due to concerns over political persecution and the nature of his detention.
According to a statement from an observatory monitoring his trial, Ayaz has not yet received a residence permit. The statement says that, despite public assurances and official decisions, promises regarding his status have not been fulfilled. It adds that responsibility for his continued detention is being shifted.
Ayaz’s political refugee status, granted by Cyprus, remains in effect. The observatory notes that his treatment in prison undermines the legal framework on which the state relies. No Cypriot judicial or political authority has presented evidence that Ayaz committed a criminal offence.
Cyprus has applied European rules on recognising prison sentences from other member states. Ayaz was convicted in Germany for offences that are not considered crimes under Cypriot law and do not involve violence or criminal action. The observatory emphasises that applying these rules was not mandatory and was a political choice.
Ayaz was previously held in Turkish prisons for 17 years without trial. His life and freedom are reportedly at risk from the Turkish state. A case remains pending against him in Turkey, which has a documented history of political persecution against Kurdish activists.
The observatory also links Ayaz’s detention to the situation in Rojava, where Kurdish communities face ongoing attacks, displacement, and suppression. It says that, while the international community remains largely silent on events there, political identity in Cyprus appears to be criminalised through institutional delays.
The statement concludes that the failure to grant Ayaz a residence permit is a political decision, not an administrative delay. It warns that this choice exposes Cyprus to criticism, given its history of occupation, displacement, and persecution.