16 academics from the School of Fine and Applied Arts at the Cyprus University of Technology (CUT) have strongly condemned the attack on the home of artist Giorgos Gavriel, as well as the broader climate of threats and censorship surrounding his work.

Their public intervention follows the cancellation of Gavriel’s planned exhibition in Paphos, after threats were reportedly made against the gallery owner, and the subsequent attack using improvised explosive devices at the artist’s residence.

The academics stress that the controversy goes beyond one artist, warning that it raises serious concerns about freedom of artistic expression and the character of Cyprus as a liberal democracy.

In their statement, the signatories cite Article 19 of the Cyprus Constitution, which guarantees freedom of speech and expression. They note that restrictions apply only in exceptional cases involving risks to public safety, order, health or morals.

They argue that claims suggesting Gavriel’s artworks offend public morals are unjustified, emphasizing that artistic expression does not meet the constitutional threshold for limitation.

The academics underline that artistic creation contributes to critical thinking and democratic dialogue, even when it challenges dominant national or religious narratives.

They caution that censorship, intimidation and violence cannot be legitimized by disagreement or offence, warning that such reactions pose a dangerous precedent for public life in Cyprus.

The statement calls on political and social institutions, organizations and citizens to unequivocally condemn what it describes as “fascist and criminal actions” and to refrain from censorial rhetoric. “The issue at stake is not the work of a single artist,” they stress, “but the identity of the state as a liberal democratic republic.”

The statement is signed by 16 members of the School of Fine and Applied Arts at CUT, including professors, associate professors, assistant professors, and special teaching staff, among them: Antonis Danos, Evripidis Zantides, Panagiotis Zafeiris, Dimitrios Kargotis, Kyriakos Kousoulidis, Marinos Koutsomichalis, Effie Kyprianidou, Georgios Markou, Angelos Panagidis, Omiros Panagidis, Aspasia Papadima, Vicky Perikleous, Andreas Savva, Theopisti Stylianou, Nikos Synnos and Giannis Christidis.