Turkish Cypriot lawyer wants everyone coming into the country to be interrogated at the point of entry

LEFKOŞA — Prominent Turkish Cypriot attorney Öykü Akcan has drawn attention to what she described as critical vulnerabilities in the country's immigration system, asserting that these shortcomings are fueling a rise in criminal incidents and undocumented residency. 

Speaking during a live broadcast on Kıbrıs Postası TV’s morning news program Sabahın Haberleri, hosted by Canan Onurer, Akcan called for urgent reforms to immigration procedures.

Referring to the recent surge in violent crimes, including armed assaults, Akcan stated, “This situation stems entirely from a failure in immigration control.”

"Entry to the Country Must Be Subject to Scrutiny"

Emphasizing the need for thorough vetting of all individuals entering the country under the Immigration Law, Akcan said: “There is a clear security vulnerability. People entering the country are not being properly monitored. For example, the system in the UK is far stricter—there is significant scrutiny at points of entry and exit. In our case, especially with Turkish citizens entering using ID cards, I don’t believe any meaningful checks are being conducted. If the e-Government system in Turkey were integrated into our immigration system, we would have much better oversight. Currently, there is no follow-up for individuals entering on tourist visas, nor are there any mechanisms in place to do so.”

 

Akcan warned that the country's demographic structure is undergoing a dramatic shift, noting: “We are facing this issue because people who initially enter under student or work permits often end up staying illegally.”

 

She also called for an immediate update to the Immigration Law, criticizing the current manual system: “With the current setup, no citizen can feel truly safe.”

 

“Anyone Can Walk Into the Country Unchecked”

Akcan described the current system as alarmingly porous: “Anyone can walk into the country unchecked. Unless we monitor individuals coming from so-called ‘brother nations,’ no change in the system will make a difference. We need to document the duration and accommodation details of everyone entering.”

 

She also commented on the repatriation process for deported individuals, explaining that while deportees are issued tickets to Istanbul, the cost of returning them to their home countries beyond that point is typically borne by the Republic of Turkey: “This process also places an additional burden on Turkey.”

Akcan’s remarks come amid growing public concern over safety and immigration policy, sparking renewed calls for systemic reforms to address unchecked entry and the associated risks.