Transfer to Larnaca International Airport from report of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture 2022 visit to Cyprus)

Transfer to Larnaca International Airport; (Read full CPT report) 40. Transport of detained foreign nationals on the airport for removal purposes is governed by Police Regulation 5/4 of 4 February 2021 “on the transport of convicts”. Amongst other things, the Regulation stipulates that, as a rule, handcuffs must be used, that escorting police officers shall […]

Read More…

Cyprus: Covid-19 and Detention

As of late January, the prolonged forced quarantine of migrants and asylum seekers continued at the Temporary Accommodation Centre in Kokkinotrimithia (“Pournara”) and the Kofinou Reception and Accommodation Centre, under strict lockdown since mid-November 2020. This has caused tensions among the migrants in the already overpopulated centres, and put unaccompanied children at the facilities at […]

Read More…

Immigration Detention in the European Union

This book offers a unique comparative assessment of the evolution of immigration detention systems in European Union member states since the onset of the “refugee crisis.” By applying an analytical framework premised on international human rights law in assessing domestic detention regimes, the book reveals the extent to which EU legislation has led to the adoption of laws and practices that may disregard fundamental rights and standards. […]

Read More…

Cyprus Immigration Detention Data Profile (2020)

Cyprus Detention Data (2020) The latest detention-related data from Cyprus, including immigration and detention-related statistics, domestic laws and policies, international law, and institutional indicators. View the Cyprus Detention Data Profile Related Reading: Cyprus: Country Page Cyprus: COVID-19 Updates Submission to the Committee on the Rights of the Child: Cyprus Cyprus: Reception Challenges in Europe’s New […]

Read More…

Cyprus: Covid-19 and Detention

Since the onset of the pandemic, Cyprus has engaged in multiple offshore pushbacks, preventing boats carrying hundreds of refugees from disembarking on the island. These incidents appear to have increased in frequency since August, as growing numbers of boats have attempted the journey from Lebanon. Although it is not known how many boats have departed […]

Read More…

Submission to the Committee on the Rights of the Child: Cyprus

Global Detention Project Submission to the Committee on the Rights of the Child (85th Session, 7-25 September 2020) Cyprus: Issues related to immigration detention The Global Detention Project (GDP) welcomes the opportunity to provide information for consideration of the combined fourth to sixth periodic reports of Tunisia (CRC/C/TUN/4-6) to the Committee on the Rights of […]

Read More…

Cyprus: Covid-19 and Detention

Cyprus has experienced increasing tumult in its reception system even as the country has continued to deport people during the pandemic. Approximately 200 Georgian citizens were deported from Cyprus during the month of May after their asylum applications were rejected. The Interior Minister also announced the “voluntary return” of 150 Cameroonians. On 6 May, following […]

Read More…

Cyprus: Covid-19 and Detention

The Ministry of the Interior issued a statement in early April responding to NGO criticism of the living conditions in two reception centres where asylum seekers and refugees were moved to: Pournara and Kofinou. The statement by the Ministry mentions that they are “doing everything humanly possible to provide housing, food and medical care to […]

Read More…

Cyprus: Covid-19 and Detention

The President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nicos Anastasiades, announced on 23 March 2020 a series of emergency measures, including a “ban on unnecessary movement.” However no specific measures were announced at that time concerning the situation of migrants and asylum seekers, who make up an increasingly large proportion of the island nation’s population (with […]

Read More…