Barber in Cyprus jailed for working outside hours

A barber in Limassol has been sentenced to two months in prison after he was found guilty of working outside regular hours, with the judge also taking into account a prior conviction due to a pandemic citation.

According to Reporter, a 39-year-old Syrian man was sentenced last week to two months in prison for violating barber laws in the Republic of Cyprus.

The defendant, described as a refugee from Syria whose five children stayed behind with their mother, came to the island in 2019 as an asylum seeker and later obtained immigration status under complementary protection.

Prosecutors said the man was managing a barbershop that operated until 10pm, two hours after normal closing time at 8pm, while the violator also left the store open on a Sunday, with one violation allegedly taking place on Assumption Day last year, the biggest summer holiday for Greek Cypriots.

While shopping hours are not regulated by law, the Cypriot government has issued guidelines for shopkeepers including barbers and hairdressers who are required to abide by specific regulations as per their practicing license agreement.

Prosecutor points to prior conviction

The barber admitted he broke the rules and asked for maximum lenience, saying he was not the owner of the barbershop.

But prosecutors pointed to a previous conviction in March 2021, when the barber lost a court case after he was issued a €350 health fine during the pandemic, prompting the Limassol district judge to say the defendant exhibited “criminal behavior" and a previous conviction had to be taken into account.

“This new revelation in combination with the commission of offenses in the present case… shows a lack of respect on the part of the defendant towards the law,” the judge said, adding “not only the court has no room to show lenience but instead a punishment to deter the defendant from committing further crimes is necessary.”

The defendant was sentenced on two separate charges, with Knews unable to establish whether a one-month and a two-month prison terms would run concurrently.