24 May 1956 On Thursday 24 May 1956, Martin Clemens, the British commissioner of the Cypriot city of Nicosia, ordered the closing down of shops across several streets, and the expulsion of all inhabitants for three months. The draconian measure was described as a ‘collective punishment,’ a reprisal against the entire population for their supposed…
13 June 1958 On 13 June 1958, during an insurgency against British rule in Cyprus, which had also exacerbated tensions between the Greek and Turkish communities, Major General Douglas Kendrew ordered a day and night curfew on the entire population of Nicosia ‘until further notice.’ He explained with typical British arrogance that ‘I am going…
ROUND THE CLOCK CURFEW IMPOSED ON JERUSALEM’S OLD CITY [ 16 October 1938 ] On 16 October 1938, Edward Keith Roach, Britain’s District Commissioner of Jerusalem, imposed a 24 hour curfew on the Old City to start from 7 pm. A notice was posted the same day on walls, and also dropped by aircraft, warning…
