Kenan Ayaz has returned to Cyprus to serve his remaining prison sentence after being convicted of being a member of a proscribed terrorist organisation. His return from Germany, where he had been detained for over two years, marks a significant moment for the Kurdish community in Cyprus.
Ayaz, a Kurdish politician, faced a European arrest warrant and was arrested at Larnaca airport in March 2023. His situation escalated when a German court sentenced him in September 2024 to four years and three months in prison for his alleged membership in the Kurdish Workers’ Party (PKK). The PKK has been designated a terrorist organisation by the European Union since 2002, a classification that Turkey has long championed, viewing the group as a substantial security threat.
The Observatory for the Trial of Kenan Ayaz, an advocacy group, celebrated his return as a “great day” for the Kurdish community, stating that Ayaz had come back “to continue his struggle with all of us, for a world without oppression, occupation and genocide.” They expressed that his prosecution in Germany was a “blow to human rights” and highlighted the adverse conditions he endured during his imprisonment.
Ayaz’s case illustrates the complexities surrounding the Kurdish movement in Europe, where advocates argue that political motivations drive the criminalisation of individuals involved. The group noted Ayaz’s belief that the struggle of the Cypriot people against Turkish occupation aligns with the quest for Kurdish freedom, urging for the rule of law to prevail in Cyprus amidst what they termed “political hypocrisy.”
In a notable turn of events, the PKK announced in 2025 that it would lay down its arms, marking an end to its 41-year-long armed struggle against Turkey. This development adds another layer to the ongoing discourse regarding the PKK and its members, especially in Europe, where various legal actions have been taken against individuals associated with the movement.