Constitution
de la République de Chypre.
Appendice D – Partie II – Droits et libertés
fondamentaux
Article 18
« 1. Chacun a droit à la liberté de pensée, de
conscience et de religion.
2. Toutes les religions dont les doctrines ou les rites ne
sont pas secrets peuvent être pratiquées librement.
3. Toutes les religions sont égales devant la loi. Sans préjudice
de la compétence des Chambres de Communauté en vertu de la
présente Constitution, aucune décision émanant des
pouvoirs législatif, exécutif ou des autorités
administratives de la République ne doit établir de
discrimination à l'encontre d'une institution religieuse ou
d'une religion quelconque.
4. Chacun est libre et a le droit de professer sa foi et de
manifester sa religion ou sa croyance, par le culte,
l'enseignement, la pratique ou l'observance, à titre
individuel ou collectif, en privé ou en public, et chacun a
le droit de changer de religion ou de croyance.
5. L'emploi de la contrainte physique ou morale en vue de
faire changer une personne de religion ou de l'empêcher
d'en changer, est interdit.
6. La liberté de manifester sa religion ou sa croyance ne
peut être soumise qu'aux restrictions prévues par la loi
et nécessaires dans l'intérêt de la sécurité et de la République,
de l'ordre constitutionnel, de la sécurité, de l'ordre, de
la santé ou de la morale publics, ou pour la protection des
droits et libertés garantis à tous par la présente
Constitution.
7. Jusqu'à l'âge de seize ans, la religion qui doit être
professée par un enfant est fixée par la personne sous la
garde de laquelle il est légalement placé.
8. Nul ne peut être tenu d'acquitter un impôt ou un droit
dont le produit est destiné en tout ou partie à une
religion autre que la sienne. »
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Constitution, Article 19
1. Every person has the right to freedom of speech and expression in any form.
2. This right includes freedom to hold opinions and receive and impart information and ideas without interference by any public authority and regardless of frontiers.
3. The exercise of the rights provided in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article may be subject to such formalities, conditions, restrictions or criminalties as are prescribed by law and are necessary only in the interests of the security of the Republic or the constitutional order or the public safety or the public order or the public health or the public morals or for the protection of the reputation or rights of others or for preventing the disclosure of information received in confidence or for maintaining the authority and impartiality of the
judiciary.
Criminal Code, Section 47 (2), Cap. 154
Whoever enters into an act publicly with the intention to promote feelings of ill will and hostility between different communities or religious groups by reason of his racial or ethnic origin or his religion is guilty of an offence and may be convicted to a maximum sentence of imprisonment for up to five years.
Criminal Code, Section 51(Α), Cap. 154
Whoever publicly in any manner and in any way procures the inhabitants to acts of violence against each other; or promotes feelings of ill will and enmity between different classes or communities or persons in the Republic, is guilty of misdemeanour and is liable to imprisonment for twelve months or to a fine of 1000 pounds or both and in case of a legal entity a fine of 3000 thousand pounds may be imposed.
Criminal code, Sections 138, 139, 140, 141 and 142, provide for offences relating to religion:
• Insult to religions (section 138),
• Disruption of religious gatherings (section 139),
• Unlawful entrance to burial places (section 140)
• Offending religious sentiments by words or conduct (section 141)
• Publications insulting religion (section 142)
Amending Laws 11/92, 6(III)/95 and 28(III/99) amending the law ratifying the CERD establish as criminal offences:
- To incite acts which are likely to cause discrimination, hatred, or violence against any person or group of persons on account of their racial or ethnic origin, or their religion. The offence is committed when a person incites as above in public either orally or through the press or by means of any document or picture or any other means. The criminalty is that of imprisonment not exceeding two years, or a fine not exceeding one thousand pounds, or both.
- To express ideas insulting to any person or group of persons by reason of their racial or ethnic origin, or their religion. The offence is committed when a person acts as above in public either orally or through the press or by means of any documents or pictures or any other means. The criminalty is that of imprisonment not exceeding one year, or a fine not exceeding five hundred pounds, or both.
In conformity with a recommendation of the Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the 1999 amendments mean that it is no longer necessary that the incitement to racial hatred be intentional for the corresponding offence to be
committed.
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