Since Monday night, news regarding the Minister of Interior’s decision to deport a total of 33 persons arrested and accused in writing, for the riots in Pournara has been making the rounds. Some are even talking about “immediate deportation.”
This is wrong. The process of returning the Pournara rioters to the country from which they came to Cyprus is a lengthy one and procedures will have to be put in place.
There are objective difficulties. It is suffice to say that of the 33 involved, seven are of Syrian origin (the rest are of African origin, from Congo and Nigeria). As is known, since Syria is considered to be a country in conflict, it is not possible to deport Syrian migrants.
Moreover, once the 33 are charged, the criminal proceedings against them must first be completed before they can be put on a deportation list. There is always the prospect of the Attorney General suspending their prosecution in order to pave the way for their return. The other option is for the Court to hear the cases directly.
In any case, there can be no question of immediate deportation.
F.M.
