In 2020, Kişmir published an opinion piece on social media, criticising some characteristics of the North Cypriot regime. Three years after the publication of the article he could spend ten years in prison.
EFJ Vice-President Mustafa Kulelicharacterised the case as "an operation to suppress critical voices in the Turkish Cypriot community" and asserted, "The Erdogan government is attempting to extend its repressive policies against journalists in Turkey to Cyprus." He added, "They are imposing the anti-democratic and authoritarian regime from Turkey onto the north of Cyprus by meddling with the judiciary, politics, and media of the TRNC, which they claim to be independent and sovereign."
Kuleli emphasised that "they sought to intimidate the Turkish Cypriots with a tailor-made political case." He expressed hope that the Northern Cyprus judiciary would "impart an important lesson to politicians by not succumbing to pressure."
In the past, Kişmir already faced censorship and attacks from politicians because of his critical views towards the holders of political power in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. He had already been called “enemy of Turkey” and “traitor” and faced censorship too.
He was forced to resign from TV20 in 2023, because of his reaction to the censorship of a critical article on Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar published on the channel’s website. The IFJ-EFJ saw in that forced dismissal a clear act of intimidation
IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger and EFJ General Secretary, Ricardo Gutiérrez expressed their full solidarity with Ali Kişmir. “We demand the withdrawal of baseless and disproportionate charges against our colleague Ali Kişmir. Prosecuting journalists to silence them is an act carried out by authoritarian regimes. We urge the authorities to stop bringing criminal prosecutions against critical journalists and remind them of their obligations towards freedom of expression".