Press Releases

High Court show of solidarity for the Orams - 12 November 2009

London based human rights group Embargoed! staged a solidarity vigil in support of the Orams on the first day of their hearing at the Court of Appeal. Wearing sandwich boards and distributing leaflets, the group’s activists wanted to extend moral support to the British couple, who are being sued by Meletis Apostolides, as well as highlight the rights of Turkish Cypriots and other property owners in North Cyprus. They were well received by passers-by, with only a few negative altercations including one gentleman who hurled abusive and racist language at them.

Present throughout the day outside the Royal Courts of Justice on The Strand were Embargoed! activists Esma Helvacioglu and Ipek Ozerim. They were joined periodically by other group members including Chair Fevzi Hussein, Community Relations Officer Ismail Veli, Ergin Balli, Ersu Ekrem and Ata Cholak. Lord Maginnis of Drumglass, TRNC MP Ejder Aslanbaba, Haringey Councillor John Oakes, Cetin Ramadan and Kerem Hassan from the Association of Turkish Cypriots Abroad (ATCA), and Hulusi Yuruten, Chair of Southwark Cyprus Turkish Association, also attended.

Dubbed the Orams Solidarity Vigil, the activists wore sandwich boards and waved placards that carried the following messages to the passing public: “We Love the Orams”, “Justice for North Cyprus”, “Turkish Cypriots have rights too”, “Stop Bullying Brits in Cyprus”, “EU double-standards”, and “British Homes under Siege”. A leaflet explaining the presence of the Vigil, together with a factsheet on the Apostolides vs. Orams case and the Cyprus Property Issue, which impacts tens of thousands of people in Cyprus and the UK, were also distributed.

The Vigil supporters cheered the Orams couple on each time they emerged from the court building. The activists also had brief exchanges with Mr and Mrs Apostolides, who were glad to hear Embargoed! recognised their human rights too, while their lawyer Constantis Candounas promised to talk to Embargoed! once the case was over. Several heated exchanges took place with Greek Cypriots attending other cases at the Court of Appeal, although these were quickly diffused and resulted in warm embraces. One nasty altercation ensued with a passer-by who took offence at the Vigil placards promoting Turkish rights. Upset that his misguided views were calmly but firmly rebutted by Ipek Ozerim, the man stepped towards her, wagging his finger and hurling abuse that concluded with him telling Ms Ozerim, “You (Turks) go back to Mongolia where you come from”.

Ms Ozerim, a co-founder of the group, said, “The Orams are fighting an important battle that affects thousands of property owners in North Cyprus and here in the UK. Their lives have been turned upside down because of it. This vigil is about letting them and the wider world know, we Turkish Cypriots stand shoulder to shoulder with the Orams.” She continued, “The Vigil also highlighted that even the angriest Greek Cypriot can – once calmly engaged – understand and empathise with our point of view. They have lots of misconceptions about Turks and the property issue. One of Embargoed!’s primary aims is to dispel such myths.”

The case at the Court of Appeal followed a ruling at the European Court of Justice in April, which found in favour of Mr Apostolides. The two day hearing concluded on 13 November, with the outcome of the case expected early in the New Year.
Ends/

Picture, courtesy of Eylem Eraydin (Kibris newspaper) From Left to Right: Esma Helvacioglu, Ejder Aslanbaba, Ipek Ozerim

About the Orams case

Greek Cypriot plaintiff Meletis Apostolides is suing the Orams, a British couple, for acquiring and developing land in North Cyprus he formerly owned and was forced to leave in 1974. Mr Apostolides wants the Orams’ house demolished and compensation paid. As he cannot enforce this decision in the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus (TRNC), Mr. Apostolides wants it enforced in the UK where the Orams have another property. On 28 April 2009, a panel of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) headed by a Greek judge ruled in favour of the plaintiff. The ECJ judgment must now be applied throughout the European Union, including the UK. However, EU States can opt out of the ruling on reasons of ‘public policy’.



Back to press releases