A request to hold matches between two Israeli teams in Cyprus was rejected for security reasons, it was announced on Monday.
Minister of Justice Anna Procopiou confirmed the report to state broadcaster CyBC, saying that the security of citizens is the top priority.
“What comes first for the state is the safety of the citizens, and taking into account all the information, we decided that the requests for the football matches should not be met with a positive response,” the minister said.
Procopiou noted that heightened security measures are being taken by the police, after evaluating new evidence from foreign agencies about developments in the Middle East.
The minister stated that security was especially heightened in particular areas viewed as potential targets.
Over the weekend police were investigating an incident against a charity director working to send aid to Palestinians Gaza.
The director of Friendship Circle Cyprus, Paul Goldberg, found a gruesome scene of a pig’s head hanging from his door handle with a threatening note in its mouth.
Goldberg claimed he had received the threat from Jewish individuals in Cyprus.
The organisation said its director was targeted after meetings with members of the Palestinian community on the island, and more specifically the ambassador.
The note read: 48 hours, if you are still in Cyprus the next head on the door is going to be yours Mr Paul.
Police confirmed the incident to the Cyprus Mail, saying that they are investigating the matter.
“We are gravely concerned, and we strongly condemn the recent attacks and terror against our Director, Mr Paul Goldberg, our Board Members and volunteers, by Rabbis and leading members of the Jewish community in Cyprus, after our meetings with Palestinian officials and our efforts to help the starving population in the Gaza Strip,” the organisation said on social media.
They added that the attack on their director marked a worrying escalation of violence, and that it was unjustifiable for an organisation member to be targeted in this manner at private premises.
They thanked the police for seriously investigating the incident so that the perpetrators could be held accountable.
“We strongly urge all communities and groups to reject violence. After years of insecurity and instability in the Middle East, it should be clear that violence is not the solution to the challenges we face,” the group said.
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs Cyprus Mail
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or Cyprus Mail
Source
