25-Year-Old Woman Struck By Water Cannon During Protest May Lose Eye

 she danced through water cannon over brutality above the chains
 she danced to freedom to joy. 
 she danced, a butterfly before a storm. 
 still, she danced. 
Sarah Fenwick

A 25-year-old woman who danced in the face of a police water cannon may lose her eye after sustaining a serious head injury, said concerned citizens in a Facebook post.

Anastasia Demetriadou was part of a group of artists and other citizens who protested against authoritarianism and corruption in the state on February 13th. Footage shows her slight figure on Makarios Avenue as she danced and clapped her hands in front of the water cannon whose driver moved closer and struck her down with a blast of water. As she fell to the ground, the water pushed her into a steel post cemented into the pavement.

A group of friends and concerned citizens are raising money for her medical bills.

Other images show police using excessive force including a boot on the neck, pepper spray and the use of batons.

Public outrage has risen to new heights under the pressure cooker conditions of pandemic restrictions and blatant corruption at high levels. High-ranking government officials like Demetris Syllouris and President Anastasiades face questions over their part in the Cyprus Papers, a passport-for-cash corruption scheme exposed by Al Jazeera in which money-laundering criminals received a Cyprus passport.

At the same time, the police have become increasingly aggressive in enforcing COVID restrictions, charging hundreds of people with high fines and using their riot control equipment on peaceful protesters on the pretext of enforcing decrees.

More than one social media user commented that last night the main TV new channels did not carry the story of police brutality against the protesters. And many people who were at the demonstration commented that the police used excessive force while sharing footage showing the same.

Restricted freedoms

In recent months, there have been ominous attempts from members of the president’s administration to suppress news stories, certain civil liberties and freedom of expression.

In a big-brother-is-watching you move, Justice Minister Yiolitis used her state power to persecute someone she believed to be responsible for a satirical Twitter account. Acting on Ms Yiolitis complaint, the police raided the home of a Larnaca resident, who denied any involvement. Actions like these are a nuisance and have a chilling effect on the media’s freedom of expression.

In addition, the right to gather in peaceful protest has been suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic measures. People are clearly not happy to feel they are not allowed to make their voices heard and instead vent their frustrations on social media.

Under normal circumstances, the responsible minister for such obvious abuse of policing powers would be asked for their resignation.

But these are not normal times.