Cyprus
Cyprus has dedicated legislation on terrorism, the Combating Terrorism Act of 2010. The maximum penalty is life imprisonment. There is no explicit carve-out for the exercise of fundamental human rights.
The Definition of Terrorism in Domestic Law
The 2010 Law defines terrorism as a set of predicate offences which are intentionally committed and which may critically damage any country or international organisations with the intention to seriously intimidate the public or sections of the public, or to unjustifiably force public authorities or international organizations to do or abstain from doing any act, or of seriously destabilizing or destroying the fundamental political, constitutional, economical or social structures of a country or an international organization.Art. 5, 2010 Combatting Terrorism Act.
Adherence to Global and Regional Terrorism Treaties
Cyprus is a State Party to all of the main United Nations treaties on terrorism.
| Treaty | Adherence |
|---|---|
| 1973 Convention on Crimes against Internationally Protected Persons | State Party |
| 1979 Hostage-Taking Convention | State Party |
| 1997 Terrorist Bombings Convention | State Party |
| 1999 Terrorist Financing Convention | State Party |
| 2005 Nuclear Terrorism Convention | State Party |
Cyprus is also a State Party to most of the main regional treaties on terrorism.
| Treaty | Adherence |
|---|---|
| 1977 European Convention on the Suppression of Terrorism | State Party |
| 2003 Protocol amending the European Convention on the Suppression of Terrorism | State Party |
| 2005 Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism | State Party |
| 2015 Additional Protocol to the Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism | Signatory |
In adhering to the 1977 Convention, the Government of the Republic of Cyprus declared that it "reserves the right to refuse extradition in respect of any offence mentioned in Article 1 which it considers to be a political offence".
Laws and Penalties for Terrorist Offences
The maximum penalty for terrorist offences is life imprisonment. This penalty is imposable for the offences of organizing or managing a terrorist group as well as for the planning and perpetration of deadly terrorist attacks.
Article 7 renders it illegal knowingly to participate, in any way, in a terrorist organization. The maximum penalty is eight years' imprisonment. Article 8(1) criminalizes the knowing support, including funding, to either a terrorist organization or a member of a terrorist organization. The maximum penalty is eight years' imprisonment.
Counterterrorism Capacities and Policies at Domestic Level
Cyprus has a dedicated counterterrorism unit in its law enforcement agency. The Counter Terrorism Office coordinates the actions and policies of the Cyprus Police in the fight against international terrorism.
Glossary
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