Newsroom
Cyprus’ government is facing criticism after instructing municipalities to remove graffiti and slogans criticizing the war in Gaza, labeling them as hate speech. The circular, sent by the Ministry of Interior on Sept. 11, 2025, followed a request from Israel’s Minister of Diaspora to clean up such messages.
The move has sparked outrage, with critics saying that equating anti-Gaza war slogans with hate speech effectively supports Israel’s military actions. AKEL Secretary General Stefanos Stefanou said, “Condemning atrocities in Gaza is not hate speech. If voices expressing solidarity with the oppressed are silenced, we all lose.”
Local officials also pushed back. Andreas Vyras, President of the Union of Municipalities, said municipalities do not take orders from foreign governments. “We do not take instructions from foreign governments,” he said. Vyras added that local authorities already step in when slogans genuinely incite violence and emphasized that freedom of expression is a core principle.
The dispute has heightened political tensions. DISY, the ruling party, criticized AKEL for ideological bias, while AKEL accused the government of becoming a “puppet” for Israel and failing to defend Cyprus’ sovereignty.
Minister of Interior Konstantinos Ioannou defended the circular, saying it was a routine reminder of existing legislation and that he had explained its purpose to municipal leaders. Still, many Cypriots continue to voice concern that the government’s actions may silence legitimate protest against the Gaza conflict.
