The penal code in Cyprus dates back to 1929. Parliament wants changes

The penal code in Cyprus still incorporates provisions from the British colonial era. During a meeting of the Parliamentary Legal Affairs Committee, provisions concerning railways, the transport of horses in carts, and fines denominated in the now-disused Cypriot pound were cited.

The impetus for further discussion on reform came from a case before the European Court of Human Rights concerning a provision penalizing the performance of a woman at a Muslim wedding or a ceremony involving genital mutilation. The state reached a settlement and took steps to repeal this provision.

The Penal Code in Cyprus - Laws from Another Era

During the committee meeting on Wednesday, November 4, lawyer Ilias Stefanou, representing the bar association, recalled the numerous attempts to modernize the code since 2000.

Despite the work of a commission involving academics and judges, comprehensive reform has not been achieved. Although the code was codified in 1959, some of its wording dates back much earlier.

The discussion included references to colonial India, railway infrastructure, and the method of transporting horses on carts. Examples were provided to demonstrate how far some records differ from the contemporary reality of the island.

Performing at a wedding is punishable by a fine

Special attention was paid to Article 97 of the Penal CodeThe provision covers the organizer of a specific Muslim ceremony or the person in charge of its venue who employs or knowingly allows the performance of a "dancer."

The statutory definition of this term includes both a woman providing sexual services and a woman dancing or singing for remuneration at such a function. The provision provides for up to one month in prison or a fine of £75.

This is not a general ban on Muslim weddings. Liability is associated with allowing the performance described in the regulation.

The complaint concerned privacy and discrimination.

Baris Ziya brought the case to the ECtHR, challenging a restriction on a woman's performance at a Muslim ceremony. The court referred the government's claims regarding the right to respect for private life and the prohibition of discrimination.

The decision to remove the case from the list following the settlement was made on September 17, 2026, and was announced in writing on October 8.

The document indicates that the Ministry of Justice has prepared a draft to repeal Article 97. However, the settlement itself did not remove the provision from applicable law.

The reform is to cover more than one article

During the committee meeting, lawyers called for a review of the entire code and the consistency of its penalties. The discussion also covered drug laws and proposals to tighten liability for causing a fatal road accident.

Commission Chairwoman Fotini Tsiridou announced an initiative for broader modernization. No deadline for the completion of the entire work or the entry into force of the new code has yet been announced.

Removing a single anachronistic article may be the first step. However, full reform requires a review of both the language of the old regulations and their compliance with modern human rights standards.