New law to combat racism and xenophobia

Up to 3 years imprisonment or 10000 euro fine will be the penalty for acts of racism will be the penalty for acts of racism under the new law being promoted at the House of Representatives. Speaking at the parliamentary legal committee its president Ioanas Nicolaou, stated that the new law will criminalize certain racist or xenophobic attitudes and will obligate the police to investigate and prosecute these crimes. The law will also include special provisions for investigating Internet based racism crimes. The new law defines the racist behaviour of public incitement to violence or hatred against a person or group of persons because of race, religion, color, descent or national or ethnic origin.