The statements by Greek popular singer Notis Sfakianakis on Cypriot state TV that refugees were cowards for leaving the civil war, while claiming refugees and immigrants were raping Greece continues to cause controversy. The Cypriot AKEL party, a left leaning political group released a statement calling on Cypriot authorities to censor the segment where the singer makes the said statements. The statements call Sfakianakis’s references as racist and offensive stressing that they are provocative to the democratic and humanitarian feelings and principles of the Cypriot people.