Racist attack on Nigerian immigrant by fascist mob
On the night of 20.07.2010, a group of a few hundred youths of the far right group ‘ELAM’ (National Popular Front) marched through central Nicosia to mark the anniversary of the 1974 Turkish invasion to Cyprus, in disciplined, army formation, chanting aggressive slogans against alleged traitors and the Turks. When the group’s leaders spotted two young Asians walking on the pavement they started screaming abuse at them and threateningly headed in their direction, at which point the two Asians ran away as fast as they could. A second incident took place on the same night, after the end of the demonstration. A group of baton-wielding, youths in ELAM T-shirts chased a black 25-year-old Nigerian on Nicosia’s most central avenue. In his effort to escape, the migrant was hit by passing car and fell to the pavement upon which the mob started beating him and also caused damage to the car. The incident received considerable publicity, with all political parties, youth organisations and state figures condemning the racial incident. Anti-racist NGO KISA told the press that ELAM carries out military exercises on the mountains and that their military uniforms, form of their marches and other fascist elements should alarm policy makers about the rise of fascist elements in Cyprus
Source: RAXEN Bulletin July 2010
