A Turkish Cypriot man and his wife were briefly detained by authorities in the breakaway north because they put up the flag of Cyprus at their home and shop in Famagusta, it was reported on Saturday.
Daily newspaper Africa said the man was protesting the fact that Turkish Primer Minister Tayyip Erdogan had saluted Cyprus and the Cypriot flag during the Mediterranean Games in Mersin.
The breakaway state had not been invited.
The man was arrested along with his wife on Friday but they were later released after the intervention of politicians, the daily said.
He had also been taken to court three years ago over a similar incident but was not penalised.
Africa said the couple had also carried the flag of Cyprus during protests against Erdogan in north, over the events at Istanbul’s Gezi park.
What started as a small-scale action by environmentalists opposed to government plans to build on Gezi Park, a rare green space in Istanbul’s teeming centre, quickly became a broader expression of dissatisfaction with Erdogan and his government.