Tassos Isaac
Encyclopedia
Anastasios Isaac (1972 - 11 August 1996), was a Greek Cypriot refugee that participated in a civilian demonstration
against the Turkish army and settlers occupying northern Cyprus with the demand of the complete withdrawal of Turkish troops
, and his return to his home. He was murdered by a mob of Grey Wolves
in the United Nations Buffer Zone in Cyprus
. He is considered a national hero
in Cyprus
and Greece
.
being a divided country, over 200 bikers from several European countries had organized a rally from Berlin
(the last divided city in Europe
except Nicosia
) to Kyrenia
. They left Berlin on the 2nd of August and were planning to arrive at their destination on the 11th where they would be joined by Cypriot bikers. Simultaneously, around 2,500 members of the right-wing organization Grey Wolves
were planning to travel to the occupied north of Cyprus from Turkey in order to confront the European and Cypriot bikers.
Due to heavy political pressure (even by the U.N. Secretary General
Boutros Boutros-Ghali
) being applied to the Cypriot Motorcycle Federation to cancel the 11th August event, CMF finally succumbed. This was met with disapproval by a large portion of the bikers and other protesters, who decided to march on their own. Among them was Tassos Isaac, who together with other demonstrators, entered the UN buffer zone near Deryneia
, just south of the Turkish-occupied town of Famagusta.
A report by the UN states that demonstrators crossed the UN buffer zone and entered Turkish Forces cease-fire line. The report by the UN also states "Although the situation became very tense, UNFICYP managed to keep it under control, not least because the TF (Turkish Forces) and TCPE (Turkish Cypriot Police Element) acted in a very disciplined and restrained manner despite considerable verbal provocation from the demonstrators."
During the confrontation in the UN buffer zone between the Cypriot bikers and the Turkish Grey Wolves, Isaac found himself trapped in barbed-wire without his co-protesters noticing he was left behind. Soon, a large group of Grey Wolves ran towards him and attacked him violently. They continued for several minutes, unchallenged by the nearby UN peacekeepers. However UN Peacekeepers were not legally allowed into Turkish land. By the time the Cypriots managed to take him back from the mob aided by the UN Peacekeepers, Tassos Isaac was dead.
.
On the 22nd of November 1996, the Cypriot Police issued international arrest warrants for the murder of Tassos Isaac against Hasim Yilmaz, a Turkish settler and former member of the Turkish Secret Service, Neyfel Mustafa Ergun, a Turkish settler, serving in the Turkish North Cypriot police, Polat Fikret Koreli, a Turkish Cypriot from Famagusta, Mehmet Mustafa Arslan, a Turkish settler, leader of the Grey Wolves
in Northern Cyprus and Erhan Arikli, a Turkish settler from the former Soviet Union .
. The Greek singer Haris Alexiou
has dedicated to her the song "Tragoudi tou Helidhoniou" ("Swallow's Song").
Demonstration (people)
A demonstration or street protest is action by a mass group or collection of groups of people in favor of a political or other cause; it normally consists of walking in a mass march formation and either beginning with or meeting at a designated endpoint, or rally, to hear speakers.Actions such as...
against the Turkish army and settlers occupying northern Cyprus with the demand of the complete withdrawal of Turkish troops
Military of Northern Cyprus
The Turkish Cypriot Security Force is the military and security force of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, whose independence is recognized only by Turkey and the United Nations considers to be a Turkish-Occupied territory....
, and his return to his home. He was murdered by a mob of Grey Wolves
Grey Wolves
The Idealist Youth , commonly known as Grey Wolves , is an ultra-nationalist neo-fascist youth organization. It is accused of terrorism. According to Turkish authorities, the organization carried out 694 murders between 1974–1980.-Name:...
in the United Nations Buffer Zone in Cyprus
United Nations Buffer Zone in Cyprus
The United Nations Buffer Zone in Cyprus runs for more than along what is known as the Green Line and has an area of . The zone partitions the island of Cyprus into a southern area effectively controlled by the government of the Republic of Cyprus , and the northern area...
. He is considered a national hero
Folk hero
A folk hero is a type of hero, real, fictional, or mythological. The single salient characteristic which makes a character a folk hero is the imprinting of the name, personality and deeds of the character in the popular consciousness. This presence in the popular consciousness is evidenced by...
in Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
and Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
.
Events leading to the murder
In August 1996, in order to commemorate the 22nd year of CyprusCyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
being a divided country, over 200 bikers from several European countries had organized a rally from Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
(the last divided city in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
except Nicosia
Nicosia
Nicosia from , known locally as Lefkosia , is the capital and largest city in Cyprus, as well as its main business center. Nicosia is the only divided capital in the world, with the southern and the northern portions divided by a Green Line...
) to Kyrenia
Kyrenia
Kyrenia is a town on the northern coast of Cyprus, noted for its historic harbour and castle. Internationally recognised as part of the Republic of Cyprus, Kyrenia has been under Turkish control since the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974...
. They left Berlin on the 2nd of August and were planning to arrive at their destination on the 11th where they would be joined by Cypriot bikers. Simultaneously, around 2,500 members of the right-wing organization Grey Wolves
Grey Wolves
The Idealist Youth , commonly known as Grey Wolves , is an ultra-nationalist neo-fascist youth organization. It is accused of terrorism. According to Turkish authorities, the organization carried out 694 murders between 1974–1980.-Name:...
were planning to travel to the occupied north of Cyprus from Turkey in order to confront the European and Cypriot bikers.
Due to heavy political pressure (even by the U.N. Secretary General
United Nations Secretary-General
The Secretary-General of the United Nations is the head of the Secretariat of the United Nations, one of the principal organs of the United Nations. The Secretary-General also acts as the de facto spokesperson and leader of the United Nations....
Boutros Boutros-Ghali
Boutros Boutros-Ghali
Boutros Boutros-Ghali is an Egyptian politician and diplomat who was the sixth Secretary-General of the United Nations from January 1992 to December 1996...
) being applied to the Cypriot Motorcycle Federation to cancel the 11th August event, CMF finally succumbed. This was met with disapproval by a large portion of the bikers and other protesters, who decided to march on their own. Among them was Tassos Isaac, who together with other demonstrators, entered the UN buffer zone near Deryneia
Deryneia
Dherynia is a large village in the island of Cyprus. It is located at the east side of the island, south of the city of Famagusta . In 2007, the village had a population of approximately 7,500 inhabitants and it consists a municipality since 1994. Current mayor is Antreas Shiapanis...
, just south of the Turkish-occupied town of Famagusta.
A report by the UN states that demonstrators crossed the UN buffer zone and entered Turkish Forces cease-fire line. The report by the UN also states "Although the situation became very tense, UNFICYP managed to keep it under control, not least because the TF (Turkish Forces) and TCPE (Turkish Cypriot Police Element) acted in a very disciplined and restrained manner despite considerable verbal provocation from the demonstrators."
During the confrontation in the UN buffer zone between the Cypriot bikers and the Turkish Grey Wolves, Isaac found himself trapped in barbed-wire without his co-protesters noticing he was left behind. Soon, a large group of Grey Wolves ran towards him and attacked him violently. They continued for several minutes, unchallenged by the nearby UN peacekeepers. However UN Peacekeepers were not legally allowed into Turkish land. By the time the Cypriots managed to take him back from the mob aided by the UN Peacekeepers, Tassos Isaac was dead.
The funeral and reactions
Tassos Isaac's funeral was held on the 14th of August and was attended by thousands of people. Protests after the funeral led to the murder of Isaac's cousin, Solomos SolomouSolomos Solomou
Solomos Solomou , was a Greek Cypriot refugee who was killed after being shot five times by Turkish forces while trying to climb a flagpole in order to remove a Turkish flag from its mast in the United Nations Buffer Zone near Deryneia, Cyprus...
.
On the 22nd of November 1996, the Cypriot Police issued international arrest warrants for the murder of Tassos Isaac against Hasim Yilmaz, a Turkish settler and former member of the Turkish Secret Service, Neyfel Mustafa Ergun, a Turkish settler, serving in the Turkish North Cypriot police, Polat Fikret Koreli, a Turkish Cypriot from Famagusta, Mehmet Mustafa Arslan, a Turkish settler, leader of the Grey Wolves
Grey Wolves
The Idealist Youth , commonly known as Grey Wolves , is an ultra-nationalist neo-fascist youth organization. It is accused of terrorism. According to Turkish authorities, the organization carried out 694 murders between 1974–1980.-Name:...
in Northern Cyprus and Erhan Arikli, a Turkish settler from the former Soviet Union .
Greek government as godparent
When Isaac was killed, he left behind his pregnant wife. As a token of gratitude for his services to the Greek nation, the Hellenic Republic decided to be the godparent of the yet unborn baby. When the baby girl was born, she was baptised Anastasia (after her father), by the then Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs Theodoros PangalosTheodoros Pangalos
Theodoros Pangalos is a Greek politician and leading member of the Panhellenic Socialist Movement. He currently serves as the Vice-President of the Greek government, responsible for the coordination of the Government Council for Foreign Affairs and Defense and the new Economic & Social Policy...
. The Greek singer Haris Alexiou
Haris Alexiou
Haris Alexiou is a Greek singer. She is considered one of the most popular singers in Greece and has been commercially successful since the 1970s. She has worked with important Greek songwriters and composers, has performed at top musical theatres all over the world and has received several awards...
has dedicated to her the song "Tragoudi tou Helidhoniou" ("Swallow's Song").