The Afik Group, a property develpment company, has issued a scathing condemnation of the ‘inhumane treatment’ of 74-year-old cancer patient Simon Aykut during an MRI examination.
Aykut, an Israeli property developer and Afik Group director, was arrested in 2024 while crossing from northern Cyprus to the Republic on charges related to illegal land transactions and developments on Greek Cypriot properties.
The statement, published on Thursday in the Turkish Cypriot media, detailed that during a recent medical check, Aykut was brought to the clinic in patrol vehicles, accompanied by eight officers, and ‘treated like a war criminal’.
It claimed he was handcuffed throughout the entire medical process, and the officers’ behavior was described as ‘harsh and condescending’.
Furthermore, it said attempts to bring Aykut breakfast were thwarted, and the food was discarded ‘while the officers ate their own sandwiches, leaving Aykut with nothing’.
“This unacceptable behavior towards an elderly and critically ill individual must be addressed,” the statement read. “The exclusionary attitude and harsh treatment of Mr. Aykut are deeply troubling and must be condemned.”
The Afik Group’s statement calls for immediate attention to the inhumane treatment faced by Aykut and stresses the need for respect and dignity in all circumstances.