Human Rights Commissioner Maria Stylianou Lottides on Friday raised concerns over the rising number of racially motivated attacks against foreign food delivery workers, despite the existence of laws and regulations condemning such incidents.
In a statement, Lottides called for the implementation of recommendations made by the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) to tackle the growing problem.
Over the past year, a series of attacks against foreign delivery workers has been reported, primarily in the Limassol and Nicosia districts.
The majority of these incidents occurred within the last two months in Limassol, with many of them possibly motivated by racial bias. According to the police, some of these incidents have already been solved, with warrants issued and criminal cases filed before the courts.
However, Lottides stressed that the recurrence of such attacks necessitates further action, especially considering the seriousness of these incidents.
She reiterated that in 2022, her office had already condemned similar incidents, issuing a statement at the time. However, with the continued rise in attacks, Lottides deemed it necessary to issue another statement to bring attention to the issue once again, stressing that these attacks are a clear violation of fundamental human rights.
The statement said that the aim of Lottides’ office’s is not to assess how the incidents were investigated or handled by the police, but rather to highlight the importance of dealing with these matters as a priority.
“The issue is not only about criminal activity but also about safeguarding the dignity and rights of those affected. Attacks based on racial or xenophobic motives undermine the values of equality and the prohibition of discrimination, which are central to democratic societies,” it said.
“These attacks, she said, are a violation of the fundamental human dignity of the victims and are considered as hate crimes, which should not be tolerated at any level.”
The statement also strongly stated that “hate crimes must not be tolerated and should be condemned as a severe violation of the inherent dignity of individuals”.
Lottides further stressed that the current legislative and institutional framework recognises the severity of these crimes.
“The categorisation of racially motivated crimes is an important step towards condemning the nature of these offenses. However, despite the legal framework, there is concern that racially motivated crimes continue to escalate.”
The statement pointed out that during a visit to Cyprus in 2022, the ECRI found a need for a comprehensive system to monitor hate crimes and hate speech and recommended stricter criminal legislation concerning similar offenses.
“The aim is for victims to recognise their rights and to take legal action when necessary,” it said.
Furthermore, Lottides added that her office has been involved in police training at the Cyprus police academy, focusing on the identification and handling of incidents involving racial or xenophobic motives.
“It is very important to recognise such motives during investigations, as it is crucial for proper handling of similar cases.”
In conclusion, the statement called for all relevant authorities to apply the recommendations made in the 2022 ECRI report, particularly those aimed at tightening the legal framework.
“The current legislation does not appear to be effective in deterring racially motivated crimes, and thus, more stringent measures are necessary,” the statement concluded.
Lottides submitted her statement to the justice ministry, the police chief, and the education ministry, urging them to take appropriate action within their respective mandates.
