Turkish Cypriots file application to ECHR against Cyprus

Turkish Cypriots Ali Erel and Mustafa Damdelen submitted on September 3rd an application to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) against the Republic of Cyprus.
A press release issued by Turkish Cypriot Cyprus EU Association and signed by Erel and Damdelen, said the applicants continue to seek to reactivate their constitutional rights providing for political representation in the House of Representatives of the Republic of Cyprus.
It added that their hope is that their application will contribute to the resolution of the deadlock in the Cyprus problem.
Erel and Damdelen, along with 76 other Turkish Cypriots, requested on 28 February 2006 by the Minister of Interior to be registered in a separate electoral roll for the parliamentary elections, a right guaranteed by the Constitution.
The Minister of Interior rejected this request and subsequently a judicial review was initiated before the Supreme Court. The latter dismissed their application on 30 April 2007, basing its judgment on the law of necessity.
‘Mr Erel and Mr Damdelen now turn to the ECHR as their last resort to secure their human rights. They base their case on a breach of Article 3 of Protocol No1 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which guarantees the free expression of the opinion of the people in the choice of the legislature,” the press release said.
In Strasbourg Erel and Damdelen will be represented advocates by Achilleas Demetriades and Nicolas Kyriacou.
According to the press release, the case is expected to proceed in the next 12-18 months.