Limassol court acquits two police officers of torturing Iranian national

A Limassol court has acquitted two police officers accused of torturing an Iranian national during a 2016 incident. The complainant alleged that on September 9, 2016, during a domestic dispute, officers entered his home, physically restricted him, insulted his nationality and religion, threw water on him, and struck him. He claimed he was subsequently handcuffed and taken to the Germasogeia Police Station. The legal proceedings lasted ten years and involved an independent criminal investigator appointed by the Independent Authority for the Investigation of Allegations and Complaints Against the Police. The court ruled that regarding the torture charge, there was no evidence of the specific intent required by law to distinguish torture from other forms of mistreatment. While a case was initially established against one officer for assault and inhumane treatment, the court ultimately acquitted both defendants after reviewing the testimony. The ruling concludes a decade-long legal process regarding these allegations.