Shocked at claims of police racism

Sir,
I was shocked to read the articles (Cyprus Mail April 20 and 21) about the racist attack against Mr Severin Hounzanme and the 15 hours he had to spend in a police cell.

The fact that his car was hit by another car that was in the wrong lane is a bad and frightening enough experience, being beaten up afterwards, shouted at and offended by words as “you f…ing black man, don’t speak” makes it so much worse, but to learn that these disgusting and racist remarks were allegedly made by a female CID officer, who even had him “brought in” by her colleagues after his ordeal, makes it even more unacceptable. This woman should be ashamed of herself, not only for her racist behaviour, but also for abusing her position and dragging down the name of the Cyprus police force.

 I do hope that with the help of his lawyer, Mr Alecos Markides, justice will be done.
To Mr Severin Hounzanme I would like to say: “EHUZU” “DAN DAN”
L. van Rooij

Retired Consul of the Republic of Benin for The Netherlands
now in Peyia – Cyprus

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.