By Andrew Adamides
THE DAYS could be numbered for vibrators and other items currently on offer at Cyprus’ burgeoning sex shops.
It was announced yesterday that on January 27, in an effort to get sex toys off the shelves, the Cabinet had approved an addendum to the 1963 Obscene Publications Act in order to extend its coverage to objects such as vibrators, love eggs and inflatable sex dolls.
The bill must still go before the House for approval.
The situation stems from a court case in which sex-toy importers challenged a government order banning them from bringing the products into Cyprus, arguing there was no law preventing them from importing the goods.
The Supreme Court agreed, reasoning that, under the Obscene Publications Act, “publications and issues” were covered, but not objects.
As a result, the justice ministry petitioned for the vague term “issues” to be broadened to include objects.
Over the past few years, sex toys have enjoyed an ever-higher profile on the island, with adverts openly depicting the love aids in newspapers and on television.
A perusal of the “personal” section of any small-ads paper lets the reader feast on a cornucopia of love gimmicks. Items jostling with the lonely hearts include vibrating love eggs, edible underwear, assorted creams, lotions and pastes, fuzzy handcuffs, novelty condoms and vibrators – including one aptly called the S-300.
Kyriacos Pantopolis, manager of Nicosia’s new Bodysex sex shop, said his shop could be forced to close if the amendment was passed.
“It would not be right, because if we want to fit in with the EU, we must accept certain things that go with the EU,” he said, citing the cases of Holland and the UK, where sex toys are openly available.
Pantopolis said that Bodysex’s sales were disappointing at the moment, but that demand had shot up around Valentine’s Day and on other special occasions. There were still social taboos about buying sex toys, he said, but he did expect sales to hot up – as long as the law was not passed.
Bodysex opened its doors just before Christmas, and reported brisk business at first as Nicosia’s first proper sex shop. A respectable-looking modern establishment, it follows the lines of the UK Ann Summers chain rather than of stereotypical backstreet hangout for old men in raincoats. The traditional vibrator was Bodysex’s best-seller in the run-up to Christmas.
Another representative of a sex shop, who preferred not to be identified, stood up for his wares yesterday: “These things are not obscene, we’ve helped many people with these things, both couples and lonely women.”
He too cited Cyprus’ EU aspirations as a reason why sex toys shouldn’t be banned, adding that if the island wanted to join the EU, it had to cast off its inhibitions.
He also pointed out that television channels were allowed to screen hardcore porn, something far more offensive than sex toys, which aren’t beamed directly into the home.
He slammed the bill as a violation of civil rights, which do-gooders were trying to force onto the public.
