Press Releases

Embargoed! slams Baghdatis ‘sports ambassador’ appointment - 26 January 2008

London, 26 January 2008: Human rights group Embargoed! reacted angrily to the news that Marcos Baghdatis has been made a Cyprus Ambassador for Sport, given recent revelations about his racist behaviour in Melbourne, Australia. Embargoed! believe the appointment by the Greek Cypriot authorities, which comes a week after Baghdatis’ offensive chants against Turks was broadcast worldwide, is at best misguided and at worst condoning racism.

Embargoed! Chairperson Fevzi Hussein said “Marcos is a successful tennis player and while he is entitled to his opinions on Cyprus, it is extremely disappointing to see him airing xenophobic views about Turks in Cyprus together with members of the Far-Right Nationalist Hellas Fan Club. Marcos has refused to apologise for the offence caused to Turkish Cypriots worldwide and now – to rub salt into the wounds – we see the South Cyprus authorities ‘rewarding’ Marcos’ behaviour by making him a sports ambassador. This is sending out all the wrong messages – instead of becoming a positive role model, Marcos is lighting the touch paper of hatred for others in the Greek Cypriot community.”

The Marcos Baghdatis incident is the latest in a long line of racist acts against Turks and Turkish Cypriots, which prompted Embargoed! to host a seminar on the issue in July 2007, as well as presenting a paper at Europe’s leading Human Rights Convention in Warsaw in September. The group has pledged to launch a Hate Crimes Register in 2008, an initiative which has the support of the Turkish Police Association, other UK Turkish/Turkish Cypriot groups and the Newham Monitoring Project. Embargoed! is also keen for Greek Cypriots groups to join them to help stamp out racism and intolerance among all Cypriots, and help foster a new climate based on respect and dignity for all.

Notes to editors

Marcos Baghdatis joins Hellas Fan Club (HFC) members singing anti-Turkish slogans such "Turks out of Cyprus". HFC is notorious its ultra-nationalist and xenophoic views, with members captured with banners stating 'Best Turk is a Dead Turk'

YouTube Baghdatis-HFC

AUS. EVE NEWS

About Embargoed! – www.embargoed.org
Embargoed! is an independent human rights group campaigning for the immediate and unconditional end to all embargoes against North Cyprus. The group was launched on 4 March 2005 and aims to play an active role in raising awareness about the isolation of North Cyprus and lobbying world leaders and institutions to restore the fundamental political, economic and social rights of Turkish Cypriots.

Contact Embargoed!:
A: Embargoed! Suite 205, 14 Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 1JY
E: mail@embargoed.org
T/F: + 44 (0)20 8279 8561



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