We should be ashamed how the police treat African students
I DON’T blame the Nigerian presidential special adviser (Cyprus Today, February 10) in calling for students not to study in the TRNC. I think it is appalling that all of these universities put so much effort in recruiting students abroad, but have no investment in protecting them after they get here. It is clearly all about money.
The murder of Kennedy Taomwabwa Dede is the most tragic example of students being left unprotected. Despite going to police several times, they did not listen to him. His death could have been prevented. The government needs to act quickly after this to set up an organisation to protect the rights of students and to provide consultancy services to those who need help.
I have worked with some wonderful African interns who have shared with me the discrimination they suffer on a day-to-day basis in North Cyprus.
A female student had trouble looking for a place to rent because the landlords wanted six months’ rent up front. A shy and very polite male student, who did community work with the church of which he was a member, was slapped in the face by a policeman who woke him up in his student flat because he had mistaken him for a noisy student next door. Another girl had her travel documents temporarily confiscated in a car accident, which wasn’t her fault, while the other driver — who she says was Cypriot — was able to walk free. She had to wait at a police station for four hours.
When I talk to students like these, they say if they try to complain to the police, it will create more problems for them and is not worth the hassle. They leave the island with terrible experience. Shame on us.