We, the undersigned,

Strongly condemn the action of the Nicosia Police Chief to prosecute once again KISA – Action for Equality, Support, Antiracism, for fund raising (total amount of 573 CP) in 2001, which to cover the medical expenses of a migrant woman whose life was in danger.

We note that the previous court conviction was based on a legal void in the Cypriot legal framework regarding money collections for health purposes, and despite the fact that the court did not in any way establish fraud by KISA’s actions and actually expressed its sympathy to the Organisation and its activities.

The fact that, while numerous money collections for health purposes are conducted regularly without any police recrimination, the police choose to prosecute in a case where the life of a migrant woman was in danger, reveals the real motives of the police, which is the criminalisation of the activities and the intimidation of KISA and its Chairperson. An organisation that, for 10 years now, with consistency, altruism and a fighting spirit, has been defending the rights of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers, gaining the respect of the defenders of human rights both in Cyprus and abroad.

We consider that the persecution of the Chairperson of KISA is the climax of numerous hostile actions by the Cypriot state against KISA, aimed at even liquidating the Organisation and we demand that the criminalisation of KISA and its members be stopped immediately and the criminal prosecution be dropped.