Cyprus-Forum.com

[Agios Amvrosios]

Wife of murdered Turkish Cypriot journalist reveals evidence
Nicosia, Aug 25 (CNA) -- Turkish Cypriot journalist Kutlu Adali was assassinated for his writings and for what he was yet to reveal against the policy of the illegal regime in Cyprus' occupied north, his wife, Ilkai Adali, has stated.

In an interview with Turkish weekly magazine, ''Aktuel'', carried today by Greek Cypriot newspaper ''Haravyi'', Adali's widow, criticises the Turkish occupation regime in the northern part of the island for not investigating into her husband's assassination and for wiping away any evidence that existed. She also said she received a phone call from a woman who gave her the names of two army officers, members of the military branch of the Turkish Secret Service (MIT), claiming they had carried out the assassination. The woman told her she had also given the names to the illegal ''police''. Ilkai Adali stressed she will continue with investigations to reveal her husband's assassins and will appeal to international organisations in Europe.

In her interview, published under the title ''he was killed by friends'', she suggests that a retired Turkish Cypriot so-called ''policeman'', who had been supplying her husband information concerning Turkish settlers illegally brought to the occupied part of Cyprus in an attempt to change its demography, might have been involved in the assassination. Ilkai Adali said there is evidence her husband was visited by ''friends'' a short while before he was assassinated. She added that the ''policeman'', who disappeared since Adali's assassination, was the only one to know that her husband was alone that evening.

The wife of the assassinated journalist said thirteen bullet cases were found at the scene and that neighbours told her a black Fiat without number plates was seen driving away from the scene, similar to one parked outside the retired ''policeman's'' house the same evening.

A short while before the assassination, the neighbours said, they heard Adali shouting ''do not do it'' and then voices replying ''this is what you deserve''.

Ilkai said that her husband had earlier received threatening phone-calls warning him that ''all those who think like he does deserve to be killed like dogs in the street.'' Adali, a prominent Turkish Cypriot journalist was known for his views against the occupation regime of Rauf Denktash and had repeatedly written in Turkish Cypriot newspaper ''Yeni Duzen'' against the influx of Turkish settlers in the occupied areas. On Friday, it was also revealed by Professor Claire Palley, British Constitutional Law expert and adviser to the Cyprus government, that Adali was killed ''after it became obvious he would have been a witness'' in Cyprus' case against Turkey in the European Human Rights Commission.

Palley has also expressed concern for the safety of other journalists reporting on human rights abuses