Cyprus: Organizations Demand Answers from Municipalities Regarding Anti-Semitic Graffiti

A group of organizations supporting Palestine has sent a letter to Andreas Vyras, President of the Union of Cyprus Municipalities, and Andreas Kitromilides, President of the Union of Cyprus Communities, seeking clarification regarding graffiti labeled as "anti-Semitic." The letter refers to a request from Israel to remove graffiti from Cypriot walls depicting the drama in Gaza.

The organizations are asking for clarification on whether the graffiti found in Larnaca, Limassol, and Polis Chrysochous, which included the word "Genocide" written like the Coca-Cola logo and depictions of Benjamin Netanyahu with the inscription "wanted," are considered slogans that incite violence or contain hate speech.

Furthermore, they are asking to know whether the graffiti were removed by the municipalities or the police, and whether the Union of Municipalities has incorporated Israel's interpretation of anti-Semitism and hate speech. The organizations emphasize that society has the right to know the position of local government on the issue.

The organizations also ask whether the Municipalities and Communities consider society's criticism of the "genocide" in Gaza as anti-Semitism and whether they have erased graffiti following intervention by the Israeli Ministry of Diaspora.

The letter is signed by: United for Palestine Limassol, United for Palestine Paphos, United for Palestine Larnaca, Genocide-Free Cyprus, Far Right Watch Cy.