Parents of Briton killed in Cyprus hope for justice — Cyprus Mail
The parents of British man George Low, who was stabbed to death in Ayia Napa, Cyprus, in 2016, said they have more hope of achieving justice after the case was discussed in the UK House of Commons. Helen and Martin Low described the parliamentary debate as emotional, while Martin Low also called it encouraging.
As Cyprus Mail reports, Martin Low positively assessed the position of UK Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Uma Kumaran. According to him, she appears determined to move the case forward.
The investigation remains open
Kumaran told the House of Commons that responsibility for the investigation lies with the authorities of the Republic of Cyprus, but the UK government has been actively involved in the case throughout. According to her, the proceedings in the Republic of Cyprus remain open, while the British High Commission in Nicosia and consular officials have sought progress in the investigation and prosecution of the suspects.
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In August 2016, Turkish Cypriot police detained Salih Ahmet and Mehmet Akpinar, who were suspected of involvement in Low’s murder. Police officer Ayhan Ozogul told the Turkish Cypriot Nicosia District Court that both men had confessed to the murder. At the same time, a representative of the then Turkish Cypriot leader said that the authorities of the Republic of Cyprus had not sent an official notification about the incident and the possible crossing of these individuals to the north of the island.
Transfer of the case to Turkey
Under these circumstances, the Turkish Cypriot authorities could prosecute the men only for illegally crossing the Green Line, after which they were deported in June 2017. Akpinar later returned to Cyprus through the new Kyrenia port, was convicted of entering without permission from the Turkish Cypriot authorities, and was deported for a second time. Later, an attempt was made to hold Akpinar accountable for murder in Turkey’s Hatay province, but the case was closed.
Kumaran said that in 2024, British High Commissioner Irfan Siddiq asked the authorities of the Republic of Cyprus to consider transferring the case to Turkey for possible prosecution, and this year Britain again supported that request. The Cypriot authorities did not pursue this option, citing difficulties in transferring evidence and testimony to a Turkish court, as well as jurisdictional issues. At the same time, international arrest warrants for both suspects remain in force.
