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Jennifer Lopez attends the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute's 32nd Annual Awards Gala
Jennifer Lopez's publicists were getting thousands of letters of protest against the planned gig. Photograph: Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Jennifer Lopez's publicists were getting thousands of letters of protest against the planned gig. Photograph: Kevin Mazur/WireImage

Jennifer Lopez cancels northern Cyprus gig

This article is more than 13 years old
Singer's planned performance at a luxury hotel triggered fury among Greeks accusing her of backing Turkish-occupied north

Jennifer Lopez has cancelled a performance in Turkish-held northern Cyprus after angry protests from thousands of displaced Greek Cypriots.

The US singer's gig at a luxury hotel had triggered fury among Greeks who accused her of according legitimacy to northern Cyprus, a breakaway state recognised only by Ankara.

"Jennifer Lopez would never knowingly support any state, country, institution or regime that was associated with any form of human rights abuse," a statement on Lopez's website said.

"After a full review of the relevant circumstances in Cyprus, it was the decision of her advisers to withdraw from the appearance.

"This was a team decision that reflects our sensitivity to the political realities of the region."

Lopez, her husband, Marc Anthony, and their two children were due to stay at the Cratos Premium Hotel, in a region where thousands of Greek Cypriots were displaced in 1974. She was booked to perform there on 24 July.

Organisers of the event had this week acknowledged Lopez's publicists were getting thousands of letters of protest, but said the show would go on. A Facebook group against the concert signed up almost 20,000 members within a week.

Cyprus was divided during a Turkish invasion which followed a short-lived Greek Cypriot coup engineered by the military junta ruling Greece in 1974. The conflict is one of the longest-standing on the agenda of the United Nations, which is overseeing peace talks.

About 200,000 Greek and Turkish Cypriots were displaced in the 1974 war and ethnic conflict which started in 1963.

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