The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has condemned the Greek Cypriot Administration from maltreatment towards refugees

The European Court of Human Rights imposed a compensation penalty to the Greek Cypriot Administration to pay €12,700 because of maltreatment and outraging of human rights to refugee Kone Sehana Seagal.

According to the Greek Cypriot daily Fileftheros, the ECHR ruled that the Greek Cypriot Administration had violated Articles 3 (prohibition of inhuman or degrading treatment) and 5 section 1 (right to liberty and security) of the European Convention of Human Rights. In this context, the ECHR ordered the Greek Cypriot Administration to pay non-pecuniary damages to Seagal.

Seagal alleged that on 22 April 2013, while serving his sentence, he was attacked by five prisoners after refusing to clean their cells. He submitted that the prison guards also hit him when he was taken back to his wing. He further alleged that, having sustained injuries to his face, ear, back and chest, he was only taken to hospital 24 hours later.

The ECHR holds that there has been a violation of Article 3 of the Convention in its substantive and procedural aspects, and holds that there has been a violation of Article 5 of the Convention and that the respondent State is to pay the applicant, within three months from the date on which the judgment becomes final in accordance with Article 44 of the Convention, 12,700 EURO plus any tax that may be chargeable, in respect of non-pecuniary damages.