Greek Orthodox Church sues Turkey over access to religious sites in Cyprus
24 November 2009
Church goes before European court alleging Greek Cypriot faithful barred from worshipping in Turkish-controlled north
The Greek Orthodox church of Cyprus has taken Turkey to the European court of human rights over allegedly preventing the 500 Greek Cypriots living in the Turkish north worshipping at religious sites there, a church lawyer said today.
The lawsuit concerns 520 churches, monasteries, chapels and cemeteries under Turkish control since Turkey invaded Cyprus in 1974, said Simos Angelides. The north’s Greek Cypriot community cannot worship at these sites because they are either derelict or have been converted into mosques, army barracks, stables or nightclubs, he added.
Turkish officials were not immediately available for comment.
The Mediterranean island is split along religious as well as ethnic lines. The Greek-Cypriot south, seat of the country’s internationally recognised government, is overwhelmingly Greek Orthodox. The Turkish-Cypriot north is Muslim, but some 500 Greek Cypriots still live there.
The lawsuit will likely further stoke tensions between Turkish Cypriots and the church leader, Archbishop Chrysostomos II, whom they see as an outspoken but influential hardliner representing a nationalist fringe.
It is unlikely, however, to damage ongoing reunification talks between the Greek Cyprus president, Dimitris Christofias, and Turkish Cypriot leader, Mehmet Ali Talat.
Although critical of Christofias’ handling of the talks, Chrysostomos has been careful not to interfere, saying the lawsuit is not linked to the peace process. The church is suing Turkey because the court’s past rulings hold that country responsible for the north, where it keeps 35,000-strong military force, Chrysostomos told the Associated Press.
The church has “documented proof” of the destruction of religious sites in the north, and will seek unrestricted access to its property there so the faithful can worship freely, he said.
The archbishop added that the church was also seeking damages for being denied use of property that should be restored to its pre-invasion condition wherever possible.
“It’s obvious that the only reason why these aforementioned rights are being violated is because we are Greek Cypriot Orthodox Christians,” Chrysostomos said.
