DP calls for limiting the use of handcuffs in the TRNC

Secretary of the Democratic Party (DP) Serhat Akpınar issued a written statement on September 5, 2025, calling for an end to the practice of handcuffing detainees in Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and for it to be regulated by law. According to him, the routine use of handcuffs violates the presumption of innocence and undermines human dignity.

Akpınar referred to the TRNC Constitution (Art. 10 — “All are equal before the law,” Art. 14 — prohibition of torture and inhuman or degrading treatment, Art. 18 — presumption of innocence) and to the European Convention on Human Rights (Arts. 3, 5, and 6). He also cited decisions of the European Court of Human Rights (e.g., Litwa v. Poland, Raninen v. Finland, Svinarenko and Slyadnev v. Russia) as examples where excessive use of handcuffs was recognized as a violation.

The DP statement contains three demands: 1) the parliament should adopt a provision in the new legislative year limiting the use of handcuffs according to the principles of proportionality and necessity; 2) the executive branch and relevant ministries should suspend the practice through administrative orders until the law is enacted; 3) courts should not allow arbitrary measures and should take international standards into account.

Practical significance for TRNC residents: possible changes in police actions and procedures for public presentation of detainees; citizens and lawyers are advised to follow official government directives and parliamentary initiatives.