Government to amend arcane law banning entry to ‘idiots and mentally ill’

THE Interior Ministry is currently reviewing the law that prevents “idiots or mentally ill” people from entering Cyprus.

The law on paper actually bans entry to persons that are “idiots or insane or mentally ill or for any other reason they may be unable to care for themselves”.

Interior Minister Neoklis Silikiotis made the announcement yesterday, in response to an article by Alithia newspaper, which brought the issue to light.

Silikiotis said the law, which also bans entry to prostitutes or any person that lives off prostitution, was being revaluated in accordance to European directives.

The minister admitted that the law was outdated and contained criteria that could be described as “monstrous”, but he insisted they had never been implemented.

He said ministry officials were currently working on the new legislation and that the criteria would be changed and made clearer.

The issue came to light in a report by Ombudswoman Eliana Nicolaou, who said she had received a large number of complaints over the past years regarding the methods used by the authorities, Immigration Office and police for allowing entry to or deporting immigrants. Her report also centred on the criteria used to place migrants on the stop-list, banning them from entering Cyprus.

According to the Chairman of the House Legal Affairs Committee, Ionas Nicolaou of DISY, the specific issue occupied parliament around two years ago. Back then, the Justice Ministry took over the responsibility of updating the law.

Justice Minister Kypros Chrysostomides said the issue had been discussed by the Cabinet, which understands the need for an amendment as soon as possible.

 Chapter 6 (1) of the Migrants and Immigration Law, bans entry to Cyprus by the following persons:

l Anyone who is destitute

l anyone who is an idiot or insane or mentally ill or any other person who may for any reason be incapable of caring for himself

l Any prostitute or any person who lives of income from prostitution

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