Racism, abuse of asylum seekers – US reports human rights concerns in Cyprus

Cyprus’ treatment of asylum seekers was documented as significant human rights issues, in the latest US Department of State report published on Tuesday, which raised the alarm for widespread hate speech.

The 2023 report highlighted “abusive physical conditions” in prisons, such as gross overcrowding and lacking sanitary facilities and that the human rights situation had not significantly changed in Cyprus.

On treatment of migrants, it cited several incidents of physical attacks by local young men against migrants and asylum seekers including those working in food delivery.

The violence which unfolded in Chlorakas was also mentioned, where “250 mostly hooded and masked individuals physically attacked migrants and refugees in the streets and in their homes, including women and children, causing extensive damage to their properties.”

Discrimination of the Roma community in housing, employment, education, access to public services and health care, and social protection was also included.

The report flagged pushbacks as well as “refoulement of asylum seekers to a country where they would face torture or persecution”.

It cited concerns regarding the “lack of sufficient protections for irregular migrants and the lack of a comprehensive system to monitor hate speech, which the report found was widespread in public discourse.”