Sude Doğan - Weekly Articles (Haftalık Yazılar)

  "The Bill on 'Punishing Fake News' in Cyprus: A Threat to Freedom of Expression?" A proposed bill in Cyprus, aimed at penalizing the online dissemination of fake or offensive content, has sparked serious debate. The law has raised major concerns among human rights defenders and freedom of expression activists, who fear it may restrict free thought and communication. Recently, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression, Irene Khan, warned that the proposed changes to Cyprus’s Penal Code could have a “chilling effect” on freedom of expression. The bill envisions heavy penalties to prevent the spread of fake news and the circulation of defamatory content in online environments. Proposed sanctions include hefty fines and even prison sentences of up to five years for individuals who send fake messages or share disturbing, obscene, or threatening content. One of the most criticized aspects of the bill is the use of vague terms like "causing distur...

Which Is More Important in the North of the Island: The Universality of Human Rights or the Sweetness of Loot? Imagine a place where some of its residents have been making money for 50 years from the sale of lands seized from their rightful owners. They loot the properties there, destroy them, and build new structures... And the rightful owners of the lands, due to these illegal actions, begin prosecuting these people in local courts. A rightful action, isn’t it? Now, what if I told you that the people conducting these illegal sales are actually protesting these prosecutions, claiming they are wrong, and demanding the return of those being prosecuted in court? I can hear you saying, "That’s an exaggeration, such a thing can’t happen; after all, international law states that these sales are illegal—who would dare go against international law?" Unfortunately, I wish what I’m saying was just dystopian fiction. But a few days ago, a large group gathered at the Metehan crossing in...

The Republic of Cyprus is Elected to the UN Human Rights Council, Fewer Loopholes to Escape… Yesterday, for the first time in history, the Republic of Cyprus was elected to serve on the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2025-2027 term. President Hristodoulides emphasized that this is an important step for the Republic of Cyprus and that being in such positions shows the trust the international community has in Cyprus. As a member of the UN Human Rights Council, the Republic of Cyprus will now be subjected to stricter international scrutiny regarding its human rights practices. This likely means increased attention and monitoring of human rights violations occurring locally in Cyprus. Now, I will present to you, from a different perspective, a topic that has occupied the agenda in both the north and the Republic of Cyprus for a long time: the illegal sale of Greek Cypriot properties in the north. Most clearly, this constitutes a violation of Protocol No. 1, Article 1 of the E...

  What Awaits Turkish Cypriots if a 'Two-State' Solution is Implemented in Cyprus? Yesterday, I watched the speeches of Turkish President Erdoğan and President Christodoulides of the Republic of Cyprus at the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly. Erdoğan's speech particularly caught my attention. His statements regarding the Israel-Palestine issue were quite "strong." As he advocated for the recognition of Palestine, the supremacy of international law, and the immediate end to the war, applause could be heard from the hall. He positioned himself, at least in his speech, on the "right" side of history by speaking about international law… But what about Cyprus? Isn't international law still valid in the case of Cyprus? "International law is not 'à la carte'," said Christodoulides, responding to Erdoğan's proposal for "two equal sovereign states," which Erdoğan has been reiterating at the UN General Assembl...