Cyprus Interior Ministry Withdraws Directive on 'Anti-Semitic Slogans'

The Ministry of Interior in Cyprus has withdrawn a directive to the Union of Municipalities regarding the removal of 'anti-Semitic slogans' from public spaces. The initial directive, which followed a request from the Israeli Ministry of Diaspora Affairs, sparked reactions.

The Director-General of the Ministry of Interior stated that the order was sent 'by mistake', and that the intention was a more general reminder about hate speech slogans. The President of the Union of Municipalities and Mayor of Larnaca, Andreas Vyras, expressed his opposition to the examples included in the letter from Israel, arguing that they do not constitute hate speech.

Mr. Vyras cited specific examples, such as a child in Gaza or hearts in the colors of Palestine, emphasizing that they did not contain elements of hatred.

Watch the video of their intervention on Omega: