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. The
The Kurdish activist, held in Nicosia Central Prison, was released on Monday, four months before his scheduled release, the Kenan Ayaz Watch announced. According to the statement, Ayaz was welcomed by fellow activists, relatives, and friends outside the prison.
“The persistent efforts of the defense team and of the supporters in Cyprus and Germany brought result, and the Cypriot government was forced to release him upon completion of 2/3 of his sentence, although this would be self-evident in other cases,” the Kenan Ayaz Watch said, which further stated:
“For his release, there was no request, since it is the position of himself and of his defense team that he cannot recognize the conviction nor repent for acts that he did not commit or, rather, for his political beliefs. The release was a decision of the President of the Republic, following pressure from Kurdish and Cypriot supporters. From today, his residence permit has been arranged by the Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection, while his political refugee status was renewed, which he had never lost.”
The statement continued: “Kenan Ayaz was subjected to hardship by the Cypriot judicial and executive authority, with his arrest in March 2023 and while there was no evidence of commission of a punishable offense. He was tormented by the German system and was convicted upon order of the occupying Turkey and with the approval of Erdoğan himself. Kenan Ayaz was held for 17 years in Turkish prisons without trial, and because his life and freedom are directly threatened by the Turkish state, he should not have suffered this injustice, especially in Cyprus, with its long history of occupation, displacement, and persecutions.”
“He is a person who, immediately after his release, visited the grave of our common hero, Theofilos Georgiadis, to pay tribute and to promise the continuation of the struggle for the freedom of Cyprus and Kurdistan, his two homelands. To promise, with respect, that his legacy will reach again a free Rojava, in Bakur, in Rojhilat, in Bashur, but also in Kyrenia,” the Kenan Ayaz Watch underlined.
“The Observatory for the trial of Kenan Ayaz expresses relief that the Kurdish fighter is released from prison, even with such delay. It expresses thanks to those who stood in solidarity and fought for his freedom. As he himself repeatedly emphasized, during the entire course of this process, the struggle never concerned his individual freedom, but the stance of humanity toward the Kurdish people. The struggle for justice, freedom, and democracy continues. On the path that Theofilos Georgiadis carved.”
Background
Kurdish activist 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.
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