Protecting the rights and limitations to freedom of expression panel held in North Cyprus

The Centre for Global Policies (GLOPOL) and the Cyprus Turkish Bar Association held a panel titled "Protecting the rights and limitations to freedom of expression in North Cyprus" at the Headquarters of the Association. The opening speeches of the panel were given by the Cyprus Turkish Bar Association Head Hasan Esendağlı and GLOPOL Secretary General İpek Borman. During the panel moderated by the Head of the Human Rights Committee of the Cyprus Turkish Bar Association, Attorney Aslı Murat, Attorney Öncel Polili issued speeches on "Freedom of Expression and its Protection in the TRNC". Dr. Nurcan Gündüz also gave speeches on “Limiting Freedom of Expression within the TRNC Criminal Law”. The substantive criminal law norms that limit freedom of expression taking place in North Cyprus and the law on the protection of confidential life and privacy were presented during the “limitation of Freedom of Expression by Criminal Law in the TRNC” panel. Discussions on substantive criminal law were emphasized. In addition, examples were given about the problems that may arise in the sense of criminal procedure law. Problems and solutions were also presented. “Freedom of Expression and its Protection in the TRNC”, the importance given to freedom of expression by the European Court of Human Rights and the TRNC courts were compared during the panel. The facts of what covers freedom of expression and what issues are not protected were also conveyed during the presentation. Examples were given under which conditions freedom of expression was restricted by law. The application of the three part test in the TRNC judiciary was also discussed. Finally, the questions and opinions of the participants were taken up and discussions were held.