Kurdish politician Kenan Ayaz was arrested in Cyprus in March 2023 at Germany’s request. Despite having political refugee status in Cyprus, he was extradited to Germany. On 2 September 2024, the Hamburg Higher Regional Court sentenced Ayaz to 4 years and 3 months in prison under Articles 129a and 129b of the German Criminal Code. The ruling was based on allegations that Ayaz organized and participated in nine peaceful demonstrations related to Kurdish culture and humanitarian issues.
Ayaz is currently held in Nicosia Central Prison. His defense lawyers argued that the conviction was the result of an unfair, politically motivated trial, and they appealed the ruling to the ECtHR. Ayaz’s lawyer, Antonia Von Der Behrens, stated that the German court’s decision violated Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights (freedom of assembly and association) as well as Article 6 (right to a fair trial). Highlighting the political motivations behind the conviction, attorney Behrens stressed that criminalizing participation in peaceful demonstrations is unlawful.
In the application submitted to the ECtHR, attorney Behrens noted that they referenced the Court’s ruling regarding Selahattin Demirtaş, emphasizing how weak evidence in political cases can lead to violations of fundamental freedoms. She stressed that “participation in peaceful demonstrations cannot be criminalized, and it is unacceptable for the court to restrict this right under the pretext of ‘membership in an organization.’”
Attorney Behrens also recalled that Kenan Ayaz, who returned to Cyprus from Germany in September, is serving the remainder of his sentence there. She stated that they are requesting the ECtHR to overturn the decision and order Ayaz’s release. Behrens added that the case they brought before the ECtHR will be a critical milestone in the struggle for freedom of expression and assembly for Kurds in Europe.
Ayaz imprisoned in Cyprus
Kurdish politician Kenan Ayaz has been active in legal Kurdish democratic politics since a young age. He held important roles in legal political parties such as the DTP in Turkey. In 2010, due to cases opened against him, Ayaz sought asylum in Cyprus and obtained political refugee status.
Ayaz was arrested at Larnaca Airport in Cyprus in March 2023 under a European Arrest Warrant (EAW) issued by Germany and was subsequently extradited. On 2 September 2024, the Hamburg Higher Regional Court sentenced him under Articles 129a and 129b of the German Criminal Code to 4 years and 3 months in prison on allegations of PKK membership. The court based its decision on claims that Ayaz organized and participated in nine peaceful demonstrations related to Kurdish culture and humanitarian issues.
Ayaz was returned from Germany to Cyprus in September 2025 and is currently being held at the Nicosia Central Prison.