Law does not prevent the sale of porn
PORNOGRAPHIC video tapes and DVDs are being sold around the island in kiosks because the law does not allow the police to put a stop to it.
According to the law, pornographic material can be sold as long as it is wrapped in cellophane which makes it difficult for minors to access.
Speaking to the Cyprus Mail yesterday, Soteris Charalambous, Deputy Police Chief in charge of Operations, said the police’s hands are tied.
“We investigated the sale of pornographic tapes after complaints by the public that pornographic tapes and DVDs were being sold, especially in kiosks,” he said.
“We purchased a lot of material from the shops and discovered that the material was obscene. We took the tapes to the Attorney-general’s office with the recommendation that the police immediately clamp down on the sales.
“But the view of the Attorney-general’s office was that as long as the tape is wrapped in cellophane and as long as it is labelled that the sale to minors is prohibited, then the sale of those tapes and DVDs is allowed,” he added.
Kiosks all over the island have been flooded by porn tapes showing explicit images that can be seen by, and in some cases, sold to minors. Sources say the only pornographic material banned is that depicting paedophilia and bestiality.
An amendment in the relevant law took place after a case was won in court in relation to what the description of pornographic material really was.
The court had ruled that the issue was relative since adults had the right to watch porn and the law was amended that tapes should be wrapped in cellophane in order to be sold legally.
Charalmbous said the police did not agree with the law, but had to abide by it.
“Our view is that from the moment obscene material is put on display, whether it be a book, tape or CD, it is a criminal offence, and it should be stopped,” he said.
“But we always follow what the Attorney-general’s office says. We showed them videos with pictures that clearly showed the tape contained obscene material, but there, because they are wrapped in film, they are not illegal,” he added.
Deputy Attorney-general Petros Clerides yesterday refused comment.
“I don’t wish to comment on the issue. Ask your lawyer,” he said.
DISY Euro MP and former Chairman of the House Legal Affairs Committee Panayiotis Demetriou said the whole issue should be reviewed.
“We need to review the law to set higher criteria for these publications and that is an issue that has to be dealt with by the EU,” he said.
