The long-standing sports embargo imposed on Turkish Cypriot youth was brought to the attention of European lawmakers at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in Strasbourg.
Representing the Republic’s Assembly, MP Oğuzhan Hasipoğlu used the platform to urge European institutions to uphold human rights by ending discriminatory restrictions against young Turkish Cypriot athletes.
Speaking during a session focused on “Protecting Human Rights through Sport” and whether the spirit of Olympism truly serves sporting values, Head of the TRNC PACE delegation, MP Oğuzhan Hasipoğlu, highlighted the ongoing sports embargo imposed on Turkish Cypriot youth.
Referring to reports presented by Danish MPs Kim Valentin and Morgen Jensen, Hasipoğlu emphasised that despite over four decades of federal negotiations between the two sides in Cyprus, the isolation faced by Turkish Cypriot athletes remains unresolved.
Hasipoğlu criticised European political circles for their lack of fairness towards Turkish Cypriots, stressing that under the discussed topics, politics should be set aside to uphold the right of Turkish Cypriot youth to participate in international competitions.
He argued that granting this right is a duty of the Council of Europe as a defender of human rights and called on PACE members to act justly and take concrete steps to end this unfair embargo.BRT
