Equality Body report on racist attack against black pupil
On 10.02.2009 the Equality Body issued a report regarding a racist attack against a Cypriot black female pupil by a group of Cypriot white pupils, shouting racist insults. The victim was severely injured and had to be taken to hospital. No arrests were made and no charges were brought against anyone. A statement issued later by the school’s teachers rejected the allegations of racist motives and described the incident as the manifestation of youth delinquency. The only measure taken by the school was to permanently expel one pupil, citing as reasons for the expulsion her shouting insults against the teachers; the school’s decision made no mention of racist behaviour. The Equality Body criticised the school authorities for refusing to attribute racist motive to the attack and for stressing the allegedly provocative behaviour of the victim, in an apparent effort to shift responsibility from the assailants to the victim. The report criticised also the police who failed to take an active stand against racism, stating that the lack of commitment of the police against racism will lead to the intensification of the phenomenon of racism. No internet link is available.
