Call from the 'Haberin Var Mı' Initiative for Ayşemden Akın: 'She must be protected in the most effective way'

Pandora's box was opened following an interview conducted by journalist Ayşemden Akın, who works for the newspaper Bugün Kıbrıs, with Cemil Önal, the man in charge of the money obtained through bribery and money laundering by Halil Falyalı, who was murdered in 2022. Following allegations of tapes and blackmail that also mentioned the names of numerous bureaucrats in Turkey, Önal was murdered in the Netherlands, and the journalist who conducted the interview, Ayşemden Akın, became the target of threats. 

The 'Haberin Var Mı' Initiative issued a statement for Ayşemden Akın, saying, "We are concerned for her safety." The statement included the phrases, "Ayşemden Akın must be protected in the most effective way! Those who threaten Ayşemden Akın must be found immediately!" 

The full text of the statement is as follows:

"Those who do not protect Ayşemden Akın are complicit in the crime!

Bugün Kıbrıs Newspaper Editor-in-Chief Ayşemden Akın was targeted following her article series titled 'Halil Falyalı is alive,' which tells a mafia story extending from the island to Turkey. She was called from a number belonging to one of the GSM operators in Turkey and was explicitly threatened with death to prevent her from continuing the article series.

The murder of Ayşemden Akın's news source, Halil Falyalı's finance manager Cemil Önal, in the Netherlands has increased concerns regarding our colleague's safety.

Ayşemden Akın handed over the recorded conversation and the phone number to the TRNC police. The information was shared with the General Directorate of Security in Turkey, but the identity of the person making the threats has still not been determined. Applications made by the Press Workers' Union (Basın-Sen) on the island and the Cyprus Turkish Journalists Association for Akın's protection, first to the Kyrenia Police Department and then to the General Police Directorate in Nicosia, had not yet been answered as of noon on Monday, May 5, 2025.

As her colleagues who defend press freedom, we demand:

•?  ?That Ayşemden Akın's safety be ensured urgently and at the highest level,

•?  ?That those who threaten our colleague be exposed immediately,

•?  ?That the allegation that 3 people were sent from Turkey to the island to take Ayşemden Akın's life be effectively investigated,

•?  ?That security measures be taken for other employees of the Bugün Kıbrıs Newspaper, where the article series was published!

While making this call, we remind you:

•?  ?That the TRNC General Police Directorate, which is responsible for protecting Ayşemden Akın, is subordinate to the TRNC Security Forces Command, that the Security Forces Command is subordinate to Ankara and the Turkish Armed Forces, and that the Force Commander is appointed with the signature of the President of the Republic of Turkey,

•?  ?Therefore, not only the police organization on the island but also all relevant authorities in Turkey are responsible for Ayşemden Akın's safety!

•?  ?To all media organizations and politicians who try to smear journalist Ayşemden Akın with slander instead of researching and investigating the statements describing how criminal organizations on the island are organized through politicians, members of the judiciary, and bureaucrats in Turkey, we say: 'If you target someone, you become complicit in the crime!'

We stand with Ayşemden Akın, who is being threatened with her life for doing journalism, and with our Cypriot colleagues who face pressure and threats after every news story that touches Turkey. We also remind the TRNC government that its primary duty is to guarantee the safety and press freedom of Cypriot journalists and media organizations.

Ayşemden Akın must be protected in the most effective way!

Those who threaten Ayşemden Akın must be found immediately!"

News Source: 12punto