There is evidence to suggest that divisive narratives in Cyprus and across Europe are increasing (Gavrielides, 2021).These are often fed by nationalism and the fear of the other. Certain groups in modern society, as these are represented by small and large political parties, believe that the concept of nation and citizenship should be limited to one ethnic or identity group, including one culture or religion (Fekete, 2018). Often, what is perceived to be inconsistencies between the defined social order and the experience of that social order by its members results in a situation of anomie that nationalists seek to resolve (Motyl, 2001). They do so by engaging in acts, policies, and structural reforms that aim to remove whatever elements are deemed unacceptable. Some of these acts may even be the result of hate or fear towards certain groups deemed as different from the perceived ‘national community’. In this journey, universal values expressed in human rights and some international agreements are seen as a hindrance to national sovereignty and a destruction from pursuing national interests.

These divisive narratives often lead to hate-motivated crime and speech. Cyprus has suffered considerably from these phenomena which are all illegal under Cypriot and EU Law. The 2008 Framework Decision on combating certain forms of expressions of racism and xenophobia requires the criminalisation of public incitement to violence or hatred based on race, colour, religion, descent or national or ethnic origin. On 9 December 2021, the European Commission adopted a Communication which prompted a Council decision to extend the current list of ‘EU crimes’ in Article 83(1) TFEU to hate crimes and hate speech. If this Council decision is adopted, the European Commission would be able, in a second step, to propose secondary legislation allowing the EU to criminalise other forms of hate speech and hate crime, in addition to racist or xenophobic motives.

Along with many recommendations, guides and toolkits, on May 7, 2024, the Council of Europe adopted the “Recommendation CM/Rec(2024)4 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on combating hate crime.” It advises member states to take comprehensive measures to prevent and combat hate crime, ensure effective criminal law provisions, support victims with specialized services, and promote a culture of inclusiveness and respect. It emphasizes training for police, the role of specialized hate crime investigators and prosecutors, and the importance of third-party reporting and data collection.