16 Crimes Reported in TRNC Nightclubs Over the Last Five Years

Authorities in Northern Cyprus have reported a total of 16 crimes committed in nightclubs over the past five years — the majority involving women working as hostesses.

The Turkish Cypriot Human Rights Foundation submitted a petition to the TRNC Police Directorate following numerous reports from nightclubs in recent years. Of the 16 reported incidents, 12 involved hostesses. The foundation noted that violence against women in these venues is often overlooked or ignored. Alarmingly, only one case was ever brought to court — involving a club worker who had undergone an abortion.

According to police data, 16 criminal offenses of 11 different types were recorded in nightclubs operating across the TRNC during this period.

“The data shows that assaults on women working in the hospitality industry at nightclubs — often by customers or even colleagues — are among the most common crimes,” the foundation said in its statement.

These revelations follow the tragic case of 24-year-old Moldovan national Anastasia Melegi, who died while working at Prenses nightclub in Northern Cyprus. According to British media reports, she had been lured to the TRNC with promises of a high-paying managerial position, only to have her passport confiscated and be forced into prostitution.

In the wake of her death, public outcry led to protests across Northern Cyprus, with demonstrators calling for the closure of nightclubs and demanding urgent action against human trafficking and sexual exploitation.