Nicosia, Cyprus. Two Syrian nationals are facing the revocation of their asylum status and deportation proceedings after an assault on three Israeli tourists in central Nicosia, the deputy migration ministry said on Friday.
Incident and arrests
Three Israeli nationals reported being attacked on Thrakis Street near Kallipoleos Avenue on Tuesday night. Police said one of the victims sustained an ear injury and received medical treatment. Two men were later arrested and taken to Nicosia CID headquarters for questioning as investigators sought to establish the circumstances of the incident and whether there was any racial motive.
Asylum status procedures
Deputy migration minister Nicholas Ioannides said procedures had begun to revoke the asylum status of the two men. He told Phileleftheros that the government would take a strict approach to criminal offences committed by individuals granted international protection.
“Foreign nationals who do not respect the country that hosts them by engaging in criminal behaviour will face consequences and have their asylum status revoked,” Ioannides said.
Earlier policy changes
The deputy ministry clarified to the Cyprus Mail that the two people involved were Syrian nationals, after media reports described the suspects as Palestinian.
Cyprus has recently moved to accelerate the return of Syrian asylum applicants following a series of court rulings and policy changes concerning removals. Earlier this year, the International Protection Administrative Court upheld multiple decisions rejecting asylum claims by Syrian nationals and confirmed return orders.