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U.S. lawmakers are urging Secretary of State Marco Rubio to step in after five elderly Greek Cypriots were arrested while visiting their ancestral homes in areas of Cyprus controlled by Turkey.
In a letter sent Monday, members of the Congressional Hellenic Caucus described the arrests as “politically motivated and illegal” and warned they threaten ongoing efforts to reach a comprehensive settlement for the island, which has been divided since 1974.
The detainees were taken on July 19 in the village of Trikomo and charged with illegal entry, espionage, and disturbing the peace. According to the letter, they were held under questionable legal procedures in harsh conditions, and requests for medical care, including a sleep apnea machine for one patient, were denied despite chronic health problems.
“The occupation administration’s treatment of these individuals is unacceptable and undermines the search for peace,” the lawmakers wrote, urging the State Department to act through U.S. embassies in Nicosia and Ankara to secure their release.
The letter also called for broader action to hold Turkey accountable for what they described as “ongoing violations” of international law and human rights in Cyprus, including the continuing division of the island.
The letter was signed by Congress members Dina Titus, Chris Pappas, Gus Bilirakis, and Nicole Malliotakis, all of whom stressed that Greek Cypriots have a right to visit their ancestral properties safely, a right that has been denied under the occupation.
