Filenews 6 August 2025 - by Michalis Hatzivasilis
Unaccompanied minors involved in criminal acts in Cyprus will be sent back to Syria, as they will be considered a danger to public order and security.
Already, according to information from "F", the golden ratio has been found and the first five unaccompanied minors have voluntarily departed from Cyprus for their country.
At the moment, about 30 minors from Syria who are in structures of the Deputy Ministry of Welfare in Larnaca and Paphos, are on a list of persons who constantly create problems. They have been found to be involved in criminal cases, either because they have committed criminal offenses such as theft or robbery, or because they carry out incidents within the structures where they reside.
Due to their involvement in actions directed against the host state, the Ministry of Justice together with the Deputy Ministries of Migration and Social Welfare have taken coordinated actions to return these individuals to Syria.
More than a thousand unaccompanied minors reside in Cyprus without causing problems and only a small number are involved in criminal cases. The authorities have told these persons that if they are arrested and found to have engaged in criminal acts, then they will return to their country.
According to our information, contacts have been made with the Syrian regime on this issue and those minors who do not comply with the laws of the state will return to their country, to their parents, relatives or wherever they wish.
As it was duly explained to "F", these are not deportations, but voluntary return in order to avoid criminal prosecution and possible conviction.
Minister Marios Hartsiotis, together with Deputy Ministers Nikolas Ioannidis and Marilena Evangelou, are in agreement in order to coordinate the separation of those who cause problems either inside or outside the places of residence and to initiate all procedures to return to Syria.
In this way, it is estimated that the other unaccompanied minors will be allowed to reside under normal living conditions until adulthood, when they will change their residence status. As we have been told, the way for the repatriation of these people has been found and the procedures for those who do not respect the laws of the host state are being delayed.
