In Cyprus, Accept LGBTI calls on police to investigate removal of Queer Wave banners
In Cyprus, the human rights organisation Accept LGBTI called on police to investigate the removal of banners advertising the Queer Wave film festival in Kaimakli. According to the festival organisers, the banners were torn down on Wednesday evening.
Call for an investigation
As Cyprus Mail reports, Accept LGBTI viewed the incident as an attack on the visibility of the queer community in public space. The organisation said that this was not only about damage to materials, but also about the right of any organisers to advertise an event and the right of the community to openly state its presence.
Accept LGBTI stressed that vandalism is not a way of expressing an opinion. It added that opponents of the festival can openly state their position rather than remove banners in the dark.
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Appeal to the community
The organisation also called on the Nicosia municipality and the Kaimakli community to publicly confirm that the area belongs to all its residents. Accept LGBTI raised the question of whether public space in Cyprus is truly open to everyone.
In its statement, the organisation referred to guarantees of freedom of expression and assembly which, in its view, apply to all members of society, not only the majority. Accept LGBTI called on police to treat the case with due seriousness as an act directed against a group because of its identity, and expressed support for Queer Wave and other cultural event organisers working in conditions the organisation described as intimidating.
