Police on Friday said they had searched the home of the non-commissioned officer (NCO) who said in a TikTok video that being gay was not natural.

The video has since sparked a wave of condemnations from the public, ombudswoman and the defence ministry which has ordered an investigation.

The NCO’s laptop was seized as evidence during the search warrant, a police spokesperson told the Cyprus Mail.

A day earlier, the defence ministry announced an investigation over the NCO’s statements, which it called condemnable.

“We accept every person the way they are. There is no discrimination against anyone and rest assured that this will be investigated and the findings will be published,” the defence ministry’s spokesman Andreas Stylianou told CNA.

Ombudswoman Maria Stylianou Lottides had also prepared official letters to the defence ministry and police, calling on them to investigate the NCO, to explore the possibility of a criminal investigation.

She said the contentious video confirms that despite positive developments in cementing human rights for LGBTQI people through a legal framework, the reality shows that there are still members of society which are extremely vulnerable to homophobic stances, views and attitudes.

“The NCO humiliates and degrades human dignity which could drive other people to commit violent acts against the LGBTI community.”

The contentious video begins with the non-commissioned officer saying: “You are gay and wrong, going against nature.”

“You should shut your ass and your mouth and work with the tools you have to become a man, in the way God naturally created you.”

Accept LGBTI blasted the content, saying the man had also posted other material telling the world that if he had a gay son, he would shoot him.

“This is an unbelievable video where an NCO goes on a vile, extreme, hate-filled rampage, degrading the LGBTI community.”