Three mothers arrested for entering north Cyprus illegally along with their four children sentenced to 7 days in prison

A north Cyprus court has sentenced three Syrian women to 7 days in prison after they were found to have violated a military restricted zone along with their four children, including a 40-day-old baby.

The women, 22-year-old H.A.A, 26-year-old R.B and 23-year-old F.H.S along with four children aged 7, 5, 3 and 40 days old baby were arrested on Sunday October 13 when they they took refuge with the police after entering north Cyprus illegally from the south through a military restricted area.

They were brought to a Military Court on Tuesday October 15 on charges of "violating the military prohibited zone" and detained for three days for the purpose of investigation.

Police told the court that the suspects, came to the Demirhan Police Station at around 11:30 pm on October 13, 2024, saying they need help to return to their country.

Police said during investigation, it was determined that they had entered the TRNC territory at around 7:00 pm on the same day from an undetermined location in Lefkosia, by secretly entering and violating a First Degree Military Prohibited Zone, coming from the south of Cyprus.

They were brought back to court again on Thursday October 17. 

Delivering judgement on Thursday, the judge stated that the defendants asked for help to return to their country and drew attention to the fact that they had fled the war and first went south and then north. 

The judge emphasized that a short prison sentence was appropriate and announced that they had sentenced the defendants to 7 days in prison for violating the military prohibited zone.