Killing of Solomos Solomou

[1][2][3] The killing occurred in the aftermath of the funeral of Solomou's cousin Tassos Isaac, who had been murdered a few days earlier by Turkish nationalists belonging to the militant Grey Wolves organization.

Following the funeral of Tassos Isaac, who was beaten to death by a mob of Grey Wolves (Turkish far-right ultranationalists) in the United Nations Buffer Zone three days earlier, a group of Greek Cypriots returned to the area to continue the protest.

[6][7] In October 2004, Akin, wanted by Interpol for the murder of Solomou, said the former Turkish Military Commander Halil Sadrazam had given the order to shoot.

[9] The photo of Solomou climbing the Turkish flagpole has often been used as symbol of protest against Turkey's military occupation of northern Cyprus.

[11] The 2009 Notis Sfakianakis song "Itan trellos" ("He Was Crazy") directly deals with Solomou's death and the ongoing Turkish occupation of Cyprus.