Cyprus, Commissioner for administration and human rights/Self-initiated position of the Commissioner for Administration and Human Rughts regarding the attacks against foreign delivers of cooked food, Ref. AYT.1/2022

Country

Cyprus

Title

Cyprus, Commissioner for administration and human rights/Self-initiated position of the Commissioner for Administration and Human Rughts regarding the attacks against foreign delivers of cooked food, Ref. AYT.1/2022

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Year

2022

Decision/ruling/judgment date

Thursday, February 17, 2022

Incident(s) concerned/related

Violence

Related Bias motivation

Race/Ethnicity

Groups affected

Third country nationals

Court/Body type

National Human Rights Body

Court/Body

Commissioner for Administration and Human Rights

Key facts of the case

In February 2022 a video was circulated on social media showing a group of teenagers attacking migrant delivery workers in the centre of Nicosia. The Ombudsperson issued a statement in relation to this attack, calling on the Ministry of Education to intensify its efforts in offering seminars and trainings to children in primary education so that when they grow up they will not harbour sentiments of hate; and on the police to intensify its efforts to investigate the incident, encouraging people to report racist crimes and record all incidents so as to promote understanding of the extent of the phenomenon.

Main reasoning/argumentation

Although police investigation was still under way at the time that the report was issued, the Ombudsperson stated that the incident is prima facie racially motivated; as a result state services must act quickly, effectively and effectively given their duty to combat racism.

Is the case related to the application of the Framework Decision on Racism and Xenophobia, the Racial Equality Directive?

Key issues (concepts, interpretations) clarified by the case

Racial attacks constitute an attack not only against the particular victim but also against the wider group whith whom the victim shares similar characteristics, generating feelings of humiliation or fear for entire population groups that can lead to social tensions.

Results (sanctions, outcome) and key consequences or implications of the case

The report did not lead to any specific outcome. The Ministry of Education did not adopt any measures as a result and the police decided not to prosecute the perpetrators.

Key quotation in original language and its unofficial translation into English with reference details

"Παρότι η Αστυνομία άρχισε … την διερεύνηση του εν λόγω περιστατικού γι’ αυτό και δεν θα υπεισέλθω στην σφαίρα που αγγίζει την άσκηση των αρμοδιοτήτων και καθηκόντων της κατά το στάδιο που αυτή διεξάγεται, δεν μπορώ όμως να μην παρέμβω αυτεπάγγελτα, εξαιτίας της σοβαρότητας των περιστατικών, δεδομένου ότι εκ πρώτης όψεως φαίνεται να πρόκειται για ρατσιστικές βίαιες επιθέσεις, που στοχοποιούν στα τυφλά ανθρώπους, εξαιτίας του επαγγέλματός τους (διανομείς φαγητού σε μοτοποδήλατα) είτε είναι, είτε εκλαμβάνονται ότι είναι, αλλοδαποί."_”Although the police have begun … to investigate the incident in question, so I will not interfere with their competencies at the stage at which they are exercised, I cannot but intervene ex officio …, because of the seriousness of the incidents, given that prima facie it appears to be violent racist attacks, blindly targeting people because of their occupation (food distributors on mopeds) whether they are, or are perceived to be, foreigners."

DISCLAIMERThe information presented here is collected under contract by the FRA's research network FRANET. The information and views contained do not necessarily reflect the views or the official position of the FRA.