FT: Foreign students lured to illegal universities in occupied Cyprus

The Financial Times published an extensive report from Nicosia, highlighting a scheme targeting foreign students, particularly from Africa and Asia, through agencies promoting study opportunities at illegal universities in the occupied northern Cyprus.

According to the British newspaper, these advertisements falsely present the universities as offering “EU studies,” often featuring images of beaches from the Republic of Cyprus or even using the Cypriot flag.

These intermediaries profit from students, misleading them for financial gain, alongside business owners seeking to enrich themselves by selling higher education services.

The report notes that the occupied areas host 23 illegal universities, with more under construction, most of which are private. While there is no official data, estimates suggest the self-declared state is home to around 100,000 students, representing 10% to 20% of the population. Half of the students are Turkish, 40% are from other countries, and 10% are locals.

Beyond false promises, the article underscores concerns raised by analysts and human rights organizations over serious fraud and human rights violations affecting unsuspecting students. Some institutions are accused of facilitating illegal migration to Europe, with individuals registering as students to cross the Green Line into the Republic of Cyprus to seek asylum.

A representative from a Turkish Cypriot aid organization explained, “International students, especially from African and Asian countries, are particularly vulnerable to human trafficking and fall prey to forced labor and sexual exploitation.”

The U.S. State Department has also flagged cases of passport confiscation by loan sharks and forced labor. The article highlights claims from the Cypriot government about "ghost students," enrolled at illegal institutions with the sole aim of crossing into free Cyprus to apply for asylum. These trafficking networks allegedly have members on both sides of the buffer zone.

Deputy Minister of Migration, Nikolas Ioannidis, stated that Cyprus cannot handle the growing volume of migrants. The article reports that by July this year, 5,081 asylum applications had been submitted, with 22,932 pending, two-thirds of which were from Syrians.

Mr. Ioannidis emphasized that Turkey must bear its share of responsibility in addressing these issues.