Syrian prisoners at Cyprus's Central Prison protested on Wednesday. They refused to eat their midday meal. The inmates are in Wing 11. They are very frustrated. Their applications for early release are delayed. They also want to return home.
The protest ended after prison management spoke with them. This shows Cyprus's difficult situation. The country faces challenges with its prisons. It also needs to send foreign citizens home. The prisoners want to go back to Syria. They are waiting for a presidential pardon.
Prison officials explained the process. They said legal steps take time. They acknowledged delays. Management promised releases soon. This helped calm the prisoners. They stopped their meal boycott. This is part of a plan to reduce prison crowding. Many prisoners will be sent home.
Most of these prisoners are Syrian. The government believes this is good for the country. Their crimes are not serious. They did not commit murder or drug offenses. Legal processes can be slow. The Syrian prisoners are impatient.
After the holidays, about 130 prisoners were ready to go home. Most of them are Syrian. Prison officials made a list of these individuals. The list went to the Law Office. These prisoners will finish their sentences by 2026.
Sending them home has many steps. The Police Immigration Service checks each case. They look at travel documents and legal status. Syria's ambassador also wants faster returns. The protest is over. However, prisoners still want to go home.