Old prison in north to house female refugees

The old central prisons in the north will be converted to a refugee reception centre for women, the Turkish Cypriot ‘interior minister’ Ziya Ozturkler said on Monday.

Speaking to Kibris, Ozturkler said the renovated building will be operational in 2023 and preparations are being made in cooperation with the refugee rights association in the north to organise a workshop on January 19 to discuss the issue.

He also referred to the need to “amend the immigration law”, saying it needs revision since it was prepared during the colonial rule in Cyprus.

Ozturkler said the “law” is not in line with the internal law and human rights, noting that refugees are not criminals and hence should not be treated as such.