Turkish north Cyprus restricts access to churches
UN airs ‘deep concern’ after most Christian houses of worship are limited to one service a year
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NICOSIA, Cyprus – The United Nations said Thursday it was “deeply concerned” over new curbs on access to Greek Cypriot churches in the Turkish-held north of the divided island.
Turkish Cypriot authorities have restricted the number of visits allowed to Greek Orthodox churches in the north, saying they were unable to cope with the frequency of and demand for religious services.
Most churches are now being restricted to one service a year.
But UN envoy Espen Barth Eide urged a rethink because the policy was contrary to the UN-brokered peace process encouraging contact between civil society from both sides of the divide.
“I have learned with deep concern about the changing policy on access to religious sites in the north,” Eide told reporters after meeting Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci.
“After many years of very positive improvement on the ability to access churches, we have learned of a new policy which seems to be more restrictive.”
The envoy said he urged Akinci to try to have the situation “rectified” as it was contrary to the bicommunal spirit created over the past year.
Christian and Muslim leaders have come together on the island to support the peace process and encouraged religious worship across the island.
Long-stalled UN-brokered peace talks — seen as the last best chance to reunify Cyprus after four decades of division –- were launched in May 2015.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops occupied its northern third in response to an Athens-inspired coup seeking union with Greece.
The Times of Israel Community.