Unacceptable condemnable statements by the Minister of Interior

 

Statement of Georgos Loucaides, AKEL C.C. Spokesperson

AKEL C.C. Press Office, 7th September 2015, Nicosia

 

The statements made by the Minister of Interior Mr. Hasikos, in which he expressed his preference concerning the religion of the 300 refugees which Cyprus is obliged to host are both unacceptable and condemnable, since in effect they are racist.

In distinguishing people into “desirable” and “undesirable” according to their religion, Mr. Hasikos regretfully generates and reproduces racial stereotypes of a bygone age.

It is truly provocative, in the year 2015 that there exists a Minister of an EU member-state who considers as “undesirable” the Muslim refugees because they supposedly will not be able to “integrate” into Cypriot society. This statement is even more provocative and unacceptable, since Mr. Hasikos is a Minister in a country where Islam is a religion protected by the constitution together with Christianity. Furthermore, one in five of its citizens are Muslims with whom we want to live together within the framework of a reunified homeland.

We call on the Minister of Interior to immediately retract his statements, as well as the government its position, if this is the official policy of the government.