**Arrest Warrants Remain Active 30 Years On for Isaac and Solomou’s Murderers**
As the 30th anniversary of the murders of Tassos Isaac and Solomou Solomou approaches, arrest warrants for the suspects involved in these high-profile cases remain active, including for several prominent figures within the administration of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). An investigative report by Sigma has revealed that multiple warrants issued for Isaac's murder are still in force, accompanied by Interpol red notices that are renewed every five years.
Tassos Isaac, 24, was killed in August 1996 during an anti-occupation demonstration in the UN buffer zone at Deryneia. He was beaten to death after becoming ensnared in barbed wire. Just three days later, 26-year-old Solomou was shot and killed while attempting to remove a Turkish flag from a military position, an act that has since become emblematic of the ongoing tensions between the communities on the island.
According to the Sigma report, there are currently eight active arrest warrants linked to Isaac's murder, which include names such as Hasim Yilmaz, a former Turkish intelligence official, and Mehmet Mustafa Arslan, identified as a senior member of the Grey Wolves, a Turkish nationalist organization. Erhan Arikli, who currently serves as the TRNC's 'transport minister,' is also among those named in the warrants.
The initial warrants for Isaac's murder were issued in 1996 but were canceled in 2013 for procedural reasons. They were subsequently replaced by new warrants issued by the Famagusta district court. The investigation into Solomou's murder initially led to five warrants being issued; however, only two of these have been accompanied by Interpol red notices. The other three requests were rejected due to insufficient evidence provided by investigators, as reported by police authorities.
The two suspects currently facing red notices in the Solomou case are Kenan Akin, a former 'agriculture minister' in Dervis Eroglu’s cabinet, and Erdal Haciyali Emanet, a former commander of the TRNC's special forces. European arrest warrants are also in effect against these individuals.
The case of Erhan Arikli has raised concerns regarding the enforcement of these warrants. In 2012, Arikli was arrested in Kyrgyzstan but was released following intervention from Turkey, which declined to extradite him to the Republic of Cyprus. Additionally, he traveled to Tunisia in 2017 without being apprehended, highlighting the challenges faced in bringing these suspects to justice.
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled in 2008 that Turkey bore international responsibility for violations of the right to life in connection with the killings of Isaac and Solomou. However, this ruling did not absolve the individual criminal responsibility of those directly involved in the murders.
As the anniversary of these tragic events is marked, the families of Isaac and Solomou continue to advocate for justice, urging authorities to pursue the suspects named in the active warrants. The ongoing investigation underscores the complexities surrounding the legal and political landscape in Cyprus, where unresolved historical grievances remain a source of tension between communities.
The persistence of these arrest warrants reflects a commitment to accountability, even as the passage of time poses significant challenges in the pursuit of justice for the victims and their families. The calls for action resonate not only within Cyprus but also in the broader context of human rights and the rule of law, as the international community watches closely.