Mora residents outraged over planned migrant ‘detention centre’

Residents of the village of Mora reacted angrily to news that the north’s ‘government’ is planning to open a new detention centre for migrants in the village.

The ‘government’ plans to use an abandoned building near the centre of the village which was once used as a police station for the purpose of housing migrants before they are repatriated to their own countries of origin.

When the news broke, hundreds of villagers signed a letter to the Kythrea and Louroujina mayor Ali Karavezirler, who subsequently met with representatives of the villagers and told them he would “take the necessary steps”.

In addition, people gathered in front of the building and called on the ‘government’ to “stop disturbing our peace”, while also pointing out that a children’s playground is located next to the building.

The villagers’ flames of discontent were fanned on Friday, when deputy police chief Ahmet Beserler told the ‘parliamentary’ finance committee that the project will go ahead.

“By restoring the old police station in Mora, people who are too problematic to be kept in other police stations can be transferred there,” he said, adding that the ‘government’ had set aside 20 million TL (€631,500) to prepare the building.

Mora is located on the western edge of the Mesaoria plane, near to the Ercan (Tymbou) airport.

The Cyprus Mail contacted the north’s ‘interior ministry’ for comment.