Lefkoşa, January 23, 2026: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has welcomed a final decision by the French judiciary rejecting the extradition of TRNC citizen Mr. Behdad Jafari, describing the ruling as a significant legal precedent.
According to the statement, the Court of Appeal in Aix-en-Provence had, in December 2025, refused to execute a European Arrest Warrant seeking Mr. Jafari’s extradition on various property-related charges. On January 21, 2026, the French Court of Cassation dismissed an appeal filed by the Public Prosecutor against that decision, rendering the ruling final.
The TRNC Foreign Ministry said the decision represents a major setback to what it termed attempts by the Greek Cypriot Administration to politicize and misuse the European Arrest Warrant mechanism for political purposes. The statement alleged that the Greek Cypriot side has repeatedly sought to exploit its European Union membership to pursue actions targeting the Turkish Cypriot people and the economy of the TRNC.
In this case, the Ministry noted, European Arrest Warrants were issued against Turkish Cypriot businesspersons by politicizing legal mechanisms. It said the French court’s ruling clearly demonstrates that efforts to exert Europe-wide pressure and intimidation against the Turkish Cypriot community are unacceptable.
The Ministry further emphasized that the Immovable Property Commission (IPC), recognized by the European Court of Human Rights as an effective domestic remedy, remains the sole legitimate mechanism for addressing property-related claims. It added that by discouraging its own citizens from applying to the IPC, the Greek Cypriot Administration undermines the rule of law and victimizes its own people.
The statement said the TRNC Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in coordination with relevant state institutions, will continue to closely monitor similar legal developments and pursue diplomatic efforts to safeguard the rights and interests of the Turkish Cypriot people.
It concluded by affirming that the Turkish Cypriot people will continue to stand against what it described as unjust and unlawful actions at all levels.
