EVERYTHING IS UP FOR DEBATE

The Cypriot government and relevant ministries are challenging, denying and refuting testimonies from people who claim they were forcibly pushed back by Cypriot authorities, following the deadly shipwreck off Cape Greco that claimed seven lives, with hopes for finding survivors rapidly diminishing.

The government’s migration policy is clear and requires no further analysis at this time. What is worth highlighting, however, is the new tactic of questioning everything—a strategy increasingly observed in right-wing, conservative and far-right governments… with the US administration leading the way in successfully turning black into white and vice versa.

Particularly on migration issues, the standard approach of anti-immigration policies across Europe relies first on invoking an invisible enemy, and then on completely disputing facts that cannot be verified without being physically present. Social media and online hate rhetoric create a dark backdrop where truth and falsehood (fake news) no longer have distinct boundaries.

The recent testimony from a Syrian refugee about violent pushbacks by Republic of Cyprus authorities was predictably dismissed by officials, who even created a narrative of victimisation. Following a barrage of complaints about the Cape Greco shipwreck, the three relevant ministries stated in their joint announcement that it is “unacceptable to accuse the Republic of Cyprus of human rights violations”. This exemplifies the complete denial of truth through mechanisms of anger and attack, especially considering that in October 2024, the Republic of Cyprus was condemned by the European Court of Human Rights for violating the rights of Syrian refugees. Furthermore, when the NGO Alarm Phone alerted authorities and even provided the vessel’s coordinates, officials deliberately chose not to respond. The result was seven deaths and many missing persons who are essentially presumed dead.

This is how the framework for migration policy is constructed—and how could it be otherwise when the majority of citizens applaud and sometimes demand even harsher measures against refugees and migrants? The government is taking the pulse of public opinion, knowing it has support for such criminal policies, and shows no willingness to change course.

Challenging the obvious—the truth—is perhaps the greatest threat to public discourse upon which people rely, either to seek justice or to hope for political and, by extension, social change.

This article was originally published on 21.03.2025

Source: EVERYTHING IS UP FOR DEBATE