State Department issues Human Rights Report on Cyprus

The US State Department Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2020 which includes Cyprus shows that there have been significant human rights issues on the island with Police authorities taking steps to address them.

These include serious acts of corruption; crimes involving violence or threats of violence targeting members of national and ethnic minorities and lack of investigation of and accountability for violence against women.

In its executive summary, the report adds that Police enforce the law and combat criminal activity and that members of the security forces committed some abuses.

“Significant human rights issues included: serious acts of corruption; crimes involving violence or threats of violence targeting members of national and ethnic minorities; and lack of investigation of and accountability for violence against women”, the report said, stressing however that “the government took steps to identify, investigate, prosecute, and punish officials who committed human rights abuses.”

Regarding corruption, the report refers to The Cyprus Papers which on October 12, Al Jazeera aired. Undercover reporters captured extensive evidence of government corruption related to the Citizenship by Investment scheme (CBI). In the video the president of the House of Representatives, Demetris Syllouris, House of Representatives member Christakis Giovani, and CBI facilitators indicated their willingness to assist a fictitious Chinese CBI applicant whom they were told had been convicted of money laundering and corruption. On October 13, the government announced it was terminating the CBI program, effective November 1, and Attorney General George Savvides ordered an investigation into any possible criminal offenses arising from the Al Jazeera report. Syllouris and Giovani resigned from the House of Representatives.

It also refers to the sentencing and imprisonment of officials and a former mayor for corruption, bribery, money laundering, and other related charges in connection to waste management plants operated by the municipalities of Larnaca and Paphos.

According to the report the Independent Police Complaints Authority reported receiving 39 complaints against police officers for abuse of power, inappropriate behavior, and unjustifiably issuing fines during the enforcement of COVID-19-related restrictions.

In response to the March CPT Statement of Principles Relating to the Treatment of Persons Deprived of their Liberty in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the government amended the prison law in April to reduce the prison population.

The government it further adds, imposed restrictions on some internal movements and movements through crossing points to the areas administered by Turkish Cypriots to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and these restrictions were applied equally to all.

Regarding the Turkish occupied north of Cyprus, the report underlines that the northern part of Cyprus has been administered by Turkish Cypriots since 1974 and the United States does not recognize the “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus,” nor does any country other than Turkey.

Significant human rights issues included: serious restrictions on freedom of expression and the press including criminal libel laws; refoulement of asylum seekers; serious acts of corruption; lack of investigation of and accountability for violence against women; trafficking in persons; and crimes involving violence or threats of violence targeting members of national minorities.

Authorities took steps to investigate officials following allegations of human rights abuses. There was evidence, however, of impunity, the report adds.

It further refers to the election of Ersin Tatar as the new “president” in “free and fair elections”. Authorities maintained effective control over the security forces, the report says, adding that members of the security forces committed some abuses.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied the island`s northern third.

https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-country-reports-on-human-rights-pract...