Collusion between state authorities, services, and police with the intent to deceive the European Committee For the Prevention of Torture and Inhumane or Ill-treatment or Punishment (CPT) Yesterday, the CPT performed a scheduled visit to the police detention centre in Mennogeia. The authorities of the Republic of Cyprus, knowing some migrants are being held there illegally and in violation of international and European treaties regarding human rights, but also of European and national legislation, decided to make five of them “disappear” in order to avoid getting into trouble with the CPT. The case involves three migrants (one from Iran, one from Lebanon, and one from Afghanistan) who have been long term detained (the first two have been detained for over one year, and the third for almost two) without there being a possibility of deporting them; an unaccompanied minor from Cameroon, and an asylum seek whose application is still pending before the Refugee Reviewing Authority. Yesterday morning - prior to the arrival of the CPT - the police of the detention centre, thinking they would fool the CPT, transferred the aforementioned individuals outside the facility. Two of them were forcefully transported to the hospital for medical examinations, with the police reporting that they were suffering from health issues, like chest pains, while they themselves protested against the transport, since they neither suffer from deteriorating health nor complained of any pains or irritation. One of them was transferred to the Immigration Department in Larnaca, under the pretext of an interview, waiting for hours for the “interview” to take place, the justification for which was never provided. The asylum seeker, whose application is still pending, was taken to the offices of the Refugee Reviewing Authority also for an interview, once again with no explanation. The unaccompanied minor’s location is currently unknown, as he hasn’t been returned to the detention centre yet. Today, the CPT performed a surprise visit to the Mennogeia facility, detecting the four detainees, who then complained about the above. It is to be noted that the police put handcuffs on these individuals from the morning they were transported out of the cells till the evening they were returned. A particular cause for concern is the role of the services involved, since they appear to have cooperated with the police to achieve its ends. The doctors of the hospital proceeded with a forceful examination of the detainees transferred there, in spite of their protests. The Immigration Police and the Refugee Reviewing Authority conducted interviews with the other two detainees that seem to not have served any other purpose, since, as the individuals reported, the “interviews” conducted consisted of random questions. KISA condemns the attempts of the police to deceive the CPT, and also the collusion of the state authorities and services involved, who seem to have offered (not for the first time) a cover for the police’s intentions. KISA announces that on Monday it shall ask for formal investigation with regards to the above actions that constitute both disciplinary and legal offences.
Posted on: Sat, 28 Sep 2013 21:46:55 +0000
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