Violent attack against Turkish-Cypriot pupils at English School
On 22.11.2006 a group of hooded youth entered the prestigious English School in Nicosia and attacked Turkish Cypriot students. All political leaders and parties, youth organizations, church leaders and human rights organizations condemned attacks against a number of Turkish-Cypriot students at the English School by a group of hooded youngsters. The attackers came five different schools and are, according to the Police, children of high class families; one person was arrested and others questioned. The far right wing student group ‘EFEN’ (Ethniki Foni Ellinopsihon Neon) denied responsibility for the attack, but admitted some of their members were involved, who were meanwhile expelled from their organization (Politis, 27.10.2006). A heated public debate followed the incident, focusing on the causes of the violence, the levels of racism and nationalism in Cyprus, the role of the education and school system (school books, national curricula in promoting racial hatred) and the role of the media in fuelling the attack. NGOs and some newspapers claimed that ‘EFEN’ and other far right groups (such as ‘Hrisi Avgi’) had been involved in racial incidents in the past but were never punished and that the Police does not properly monitor and record racial incidents. Ministers of the government (Education, Justice and the government spokesman) insisted that this was an ‘isolated incident’ that must not be blown out of proportion and that there is no problem of racism and nationalism in Cyprus. Some MPs joined NGOs in arguing that serious measures need to be taken to combat the rise of nationalist and racist fervour, otherwise such incidents will dangerously multiply, particularly as the division of the country continues. The assailants were subsequently charged with offences unrelated to racism (unlawful entry, breach of peace etc) and were sentenced to a few hours of community work.
Source:
RAXEN Bulletin November 2006
