Police holding cells , ‘should be abolished’
Fact: Holding cells in police stations should be abolished, according to trade union Isotita’s police branch chairman Nikos Loizidis.
torture
Miserable conditions at Limassol police holding centre
Conditions at the police holding centre in Limassol are described as miserable, with congestion, inadequate ventilation, and rundown toilet facilities. The ombudswoman’s report highlighted the overcrowding and poor conditions in the facility, which has a capacity for 34 detainees. The report also mentioned specific issues in different wings of the facility, such as inadequate lighting for administrative detainees and the lack of entertainment options for all detainees. The ombudswoman recommended improvements in various areas, including the visiting area and the need for more staff and proper training for police officers.
Hamas had instructions to use sexual violence as a weapon, Israeli lawyer tells Phileleftheros
An Israeli former Hamas hostage from the October 7 attack spoke out about the sexual violence and torture she endured. A UN report confirmed Israel’s allegations of ongoing sexual violence by Hamas. The victims of the attack are in the process of healing and dealing with their trauma. The Israeli government developed programmes to help survivors of the attack. Feminist organizations worldwide did not provide sufficient support to Israeli women who were victims of sexual violence. Israeli women did not receive necessary international support due to antisemitism and ignorance. It is crucial for women to stand united and demand justice for sexual violence in wartime. The Israeli army has been accused of sexual assaults against Palestinian women, but there is no evidence to justify the allegations. Hostages still in Hamas’s hands are subjected to sexual assaults, isolation, and poor living conditions.
New migrant boat escorted to Protaras’ Golden Coast
A new migrant vessel carrying 25 people, including 8 minors, arrived in Cyprus, making it the fourteenth boat to reach the island in just five days. Police arrested the suspected navigator of the vessel. Cyprus is facing a surge in migrant arrivals, with 786 people arriving on fourteen boats in the past five days. Interior Minister Konstantinos Ioannou highlighted the challenges faced by Cyprus due to increased migration flows and called for greater economic support from the EU for Lebanon.
Police arrest 13 after 761 migrants arrive in Cyprus in four days
Immigration authorities in Famagusta and Larnaca arrested 13 people suspected of facilitating illegal entry into the Republic after 761 Syrian nationals arrived on the island aboard 13 vessels. The alleged navigators of the boats, all reportedly Syrian nationals, are in custody. Radar detected three new boats on Tuesday evening, with one carrying 27 people intercepted southeast of Cape Greco, another dinghy with 236 migrants found overloaded, and a third carrying 22 individuals directed to a fishing shelter. Several individuals involved in these incidents have been arrested, with the Interior Minister warning that Cyprus may not be able to cope with increased migration flows. Cyprus is demanding practical solidarity from other EU member states in dealing with the situation.
Ugandan court upholds anti-LGBTQ law but says some rights infringed
Uganda’s constitutional court refused to annul or suspend an anti-LGBTQ law that includes the death penalty for certain same-sex acts, but voided some provisions that were inconsistent with certain fundamental human rights.
‘Hallmarks of genocide’ in Russian crimes across Ukraine, Ukrainian prosecutor says
Ukraine’s top prosecutor, Andriy Kostin, stated that Russian crimes in occupied Ukrainian territories, including the Bucha massacres, exhibit genocidal behavior. Over 125,000 alleged war crimes by Russian forces have been recorded, with thousands in Bucha. Kostin believes these crimes show signs of genocide and should be tried domestically and at the International Criminal Court. The ICC has issued arrest warrants for Russian suspects, including President Putin, for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Kostin aims to prosecute these crimes up to Russia’s military and political leadership in both Ukrainian and international courts.
For Öcalan who insists on…
Abdullah Öcalan, the Kurdish leader, has been in solitary confinement on Imrali island since 1999, with no communication since March 2021. Despite his efforts for peace in the Middle East, European leaders remain silent on his situation and human rights violations. Ibrahim Bilmez, Öcalan’s lawyer, urges Europe to recognize Öcalan’s efforts and demand his release to help bring peace to the region.
EU to support establishment of asset management office in Cyprus
The EU will support a series of reform projects in Cyprus, including the establishment of an asset management office, the structural review of the Cypriot Presidency, and the improvement of the Cypriot deposit guarantee scheme.
UN says Russia consolidates control of occupied Ukraine with , ‘climate of fear’
Russia is consolidating control over occupied Ukrainian territory through arbitrary detention, killings, and torture, creating a climate of fear. The U.N. Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) reported on rights breaches by Russia, including censorship, surveillance, political oppression, repression of free speech, and movement restrictions. Russia denies committing atrocities or deliberately attacking civilians, calling its actions a “special military operation.” Russia controls over 17% of Ukraine’s territory, affecting several million people. The HRMMU’s findings are based on interviews with over 2,300 individuals. Initial rights violations involved killings, torture, and arbitrary detention, targeting those linked to Ukrainian security forces or supportive of Ukraine. This was followed by restrictions on movement, assembly, and expression, and efforts to replace Ukrainian state institutions with Russian ones, violating international humanitarian law. Schools were forced to adopt the Russian language and curriculum, and the justice system jailed people in Russian prisons. Civil servants were compelled to comply with new systems. At the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, workers faced threats, intimidation, and arbitrary arrest if they resisted. Russia also pushed for residents to take Russian citizenship, linking access to services like healthcare and social security to holding a Russian passport. Residents were encouraged to spy on each other, and communication links between Ukrainians in occupied areas and those in territories controlled by Kyiv were cut, isolating families.