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Last night, police checks were carried out in many areas in the north of Cyprus under the name of a ‘peace operation’.
Traffic offence checks, body searches, identity checks and general public order checks are, of course, part of the state’s duties in the context of public safety. However, the images that emerged while this duty was being carried out resemble scenes from an action film rather than a security practice.
People lined up against walls for body searches, their faces exposed, their identities made visible in the media, and the operation turned into a spectacle; this poses serious problems in terms of the rule of law, and human rights and freedoms.
At this point, a reminder is much needed:
• Presumption of innocence: A person cannot be declared guilty in the absence a court decision.
• Right to privacy: The fact that a body search is being carried out does not legitimise the exposure of the person.
• Principle of proportionality: The use of public authority must be appropriate, necessary and proportionate to the aim.
• Personal safety and dignity: These are protected by the Constitution’s most fundamental framework.
Rising crime rates are causing considerable concern within the society, for all the right reasons. People do not feel safe; no one accepts the transformation of the country into ‘free-for-all’, that gunmen should be able to enter easily, or that deaths and injuries on the roads should continue. However, combating crime does not give free rein to violate fundamental rights.
Using excessive force to alleviate social unease, disseminating images that constitute violation of rights, and disregarding people’s privacy are incompatible with the rule of law; they do not enhance security but, on the contrary, undermine trust.
Security policies only provide real security when they take their strength from rights and freedoms, do not pave way to arbitrariness, and are transparent and accountable.
Even in the steps you take, which you claim are beneficial for the country, you are unable to maintain a fair balance.
Maintaining public order is essential, yes; but this order should not be achieved through ‘tyranny’.
We desire both a secure society and a public order where our fundamental rights are not arbitrarily violated. We must remind ourselves that these are not alternatives to each other, but rather complementary to each other.
This article was originally published on 23.12.2025
