Press Releases

Arsenal football fan checked by wall of intolerance - 14 December 2006

14 December 2006: Arsenal fan Mete Ahmed’s decision to hang the national flag of his ethnic homeland – the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus (TRNC) – at the new Emirates stadium has drawn the wrath of Greek Cypriots and forced Arsenal Football Club to act. Greek Cypriots objected to the lone TRNC flag and launched a mass petition to have it removed, with some extremists threatening Mete. The developments prompted Arsenal Football Club’s Managing Director Keith Edelman to intervene and impose a blanket ban on all national flags.

Turkish Cypriot Mete – a life-long Arsenal fan and season ticket holder – refused to take down his TRNC flag on a wall in front of his seat when asked by officials at the new Emirates Stadium. This followed a complaint by another fan who claimed the flag was “offensive” as it represented an “illegal State”. Arsenal investigated the matter and took advice from the UK Home Office before deciding that the flag was not illegal and could remain, as banning it would discriminate against Turkish Cypriots.

Arsenal’s decision infuriated Greek Cypriots, who vented their feelings on a petition on the igreek.co.uk website. Many of the 8,000 plus signatories added racist comments against Turks. Mete has also experienced verbal abuse – including death threats. As a result, Mr Edelman was forced to intervene and, given the strength of feelings on the issue and safety concerns for people visiting the Emirates stadium, Arsenal have decided to ban all national flags at future home games. The club hopes this will bring the matter to a close and ensure politics remains outside of football.

While respecting Arsenal’s decision, human rights group Embargoed! is shocked at the level of racism within the Greek Cypriot campaign to ban the TRNC flag. Ergin Balli, Embargoed!’s External Relations Officer, stated, “The igreek petition is essentially a hate campaign against Turks and Islam. Every page is littered with offensive comments. Some have likened the TRNC flag to a Nazi swastika and demanded ‘Turks out of Cyprus’. Many claim ‘Cyprus is Greek’, and ‘The best Turk is a dead Turk’, while some air religious hatred with comments such as “F*ck the Koran.” Mr Balli continued, “The two Cypriot sides cannot reconcile as long as the Greek Cypriot community continues to exhibit such hatred towards Turks. Their intolerance also means everyone else has to suffer through this blanket flag ban.”

Previously, Arsenal’s Stadium Manager John Beattie had written to Mete advising him that he could continue to fly his TRNC flag in the designated area at the stadium. The letter stated that Arsenal was fully aware of the political sensitivities surrounding Cyprus and the complaint had been carefully considered. The club acknowledged the TRNC flag would upset some fans, but did not feel this was sufficient grounds to ban the flag. The new decision comes into effect from Arsenal’s next home game against Portsmouth on Saturday 16 December.
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Notes to editors


The initial story about Mete Ahmed and his flag can be viewed on the Embargoed! website: http://www.embargoed.org/external_news_events.php?id=82

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!:
• Email: mail@embargoed.org
• Telephone/fax: + 44 (0)20 8279 8561
• Post: Embargoed! Suite 205, 14 Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 1JY

Press Enquiries:
Ms. Ýpek Özerim T: +44 (0)777 623 0466 E: ipekh@excite.com



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