OSCE condemns Afrika attacks

The representative of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) for Freedom of the Media, Harlem Desir, condemned the recent attacks on the offices of the Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika in a press release published on Friday.

“Vandalism and violence against a newspaper is never acceptable. This is an attack on free press and freedom of speech on the island. Journalists and their important work must be protected,” the statement said.

“Attempts to intimidate journalists are inadmissible, and they should be able to work freely without fear. Ensuring safety of journalists must be a priority everywhere in the OSCE region.”

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.