Massive Public Gathering Scheduled Today Against the Controversial Anti-Protest Bill - Loud Public Opposition Expressed
A controversial bill regulating public gatherings and demonstrations in Cyprus, known as the "Public Gatherings and Parades Law of 2025," has been postponed until July 10, 2025, following significant public opposition and parliamentary concerns about civil rights and police powers.
The proposed legislation, put forward by the Ministry of Justice and Public Order, seeks to impose strict conditions on organizing protests and parades. Under the bill, protest organizers would be required to inform authorities at least seven days in advance, provide details about the protest's purpose, planned route, expected attendance, and any items or equipment intended for use.
The bill also grants the police broad powers to impose restrictions on protests both before and during the events, including banning protesters from wearing masks or hiding their faces. It designates an official organizer who would bear legal responsibility if incidents occur during the demonstrations.
This legislation has sparked controversy, with many civil society groups, opposition politicians, and protesters viewing it as an authoritarian clampdown on fundamental democratic freedoms, particularly the right to peaceful assembly. Critics argue the bill could suppress dissent by enabling excessive police powers and imposing onerous regulations on organizing protests.
The opposition includes a coalition of 36 trade unions, human rights organizations, environmental groups, and left-wing political movements such as DiEM25 and AKEL. AKEL has labeled the bill "draconian" and plans to propose changes, while the Green Party and VOLT MP Alexandra Attalidou have pledged to vote against it. A coalition of 35 groups issued a joint statement urging parliament to reject the bill, describing it as a tool of repression and a threat to democracy.
Supporters of the bill, including Nikos Tornaritis, chairman of the parliamentary Legal Affairs Committee and a DISY MP, defend it as a necessary modernization of an outdated colonial-era law, claiming the bill aligns with constitutional rights and does not violate human rights. However, critics contest this view, warning the bill could "evoke undemocratic regimes" and infringe on rights protected by the European Convention on Human Rights.
Reports of excessive force and arbitrary arrests by police during recent protests have further inflamed the controversy surrounding the bill. Demonstrators are planning to gather at 18:00 this evening outside the House of Representatives in Nicosia to express their opposition, demanding the protection of the right to protest without what they view as excessive police interference.
This reflects a tension between government efforts to regulate public order and broad civil society concerns about protecting the right to protest as a core democratic freedom. The debate and voting on the bill are now scheduled for July 10, 2025, providing time for further discussion and potential amendments.
- The Europa Union, anticipating the July 10, 2025, decision, is closely monitoring the ongoing political news in Cyprus, particularly the controversial bill, the "Public Gatherings and Parades Law of 2025," which legislates business operations regarding public demonstrations.
- The EU, as a champion of general news regarding human rights and policy-and-legislation, is concerned about the impact of the proposed law, especially its potential infringement on the right to peaceful assembly in Nicosia.
- In the context of the European Convention on Human Rights, the EU urges the Cyprus government to reconsider the policy-and-legislation, aiming to preserve democracy and maintain civil rights in Cyprus' political landscape.
