MEP Fidias Panayiotou issued a public apology on Tuesday after using a derogatory term to describe Paralympic athletes with intellectual disabilities, a move that prompted widespread condemnation.
The controversy follows a podcast recorded on 29 November with para-athlete Loizos Chrysanthou. During the interview, Panayiotou referred to athletes in the S14 category as “pellous” (fools/madmen).
The Cyprus Psychologists Association stated on Wednesday that it “unequivocally condemns public statements that stigmatise our fellow human beings,” calling Panayiotou’s remarks a “clear example of devaluing human existence.”
“They all rushed to eat me. To tell you the truth, this time they were right to do so,” Panayiotou said in a response video. He admitted he should not have used the word to describe any disability or illness and offered a public apology, claiming that admitting a mistake is a sign of strength.
However, the Psychologists Association rejected the MEP’s defence, stating that the excuse of “I didn’t know, but I am willing to learn” should not be tolerated. The association argued that respect is a matter of upbringing and character rather than learning, adding that Panayiotou “shamed the office he holds and the people who elected him to it.”
The association further noted that the terminology used by the MEP “witnesses a deficit in personal values and a shallow personality.” They described such statements as unacceptable, particularly when coming from high-ranking political figures.
Panayiotou suggested the sudden backlash to the two-month-old podcast was politically motivated, noting that recent polls show his “Direct Democracy” party exceeding 10 per cent support.
The MEP has invited suggestions on how to support people with disabilities and pledged that his next visitor group to the European Parliament will consist of individuals with disabilities.
The Cyprus Confederation of Organisations of the Disabled (CCOD) issued an urgent press release on Tuesday stating that the slur has remained in public view for two months, and they labeled Panayiotou’s claim that the public’s outrage is politically motivated as “an insult”.
The CCOD further informed the media on behalf of para-athlete Marios Philippou that he does not consent to his image being used in Panayiotou’s “so-called” apology video.
The CCOD added that it represents a “serious democratic deficit” to attribute political motives to those defending fundamental human rights.
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