US SAYS FEW REPORTS ON RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION IN CYPRUS

Financial Mirror
September 22, 2008
Cyprus

There were few reports of societal abuses or discrimination based on
religious affiliation, belief, or practice in the government-controlled
areas of the Republic of Cyprus and the areas under Turkish occupation,
according to the International Religious Freedom Report 2008, released
by the US Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor.

The report notes that the US Government discusses religious freedom
with the Government of Cyprus and the Turkish Cypriot authorities as
part of its overall policy to promote human rights.

The report says both the Government and the Turkish Cypriot authorities
generally respected religious freedom in practice and that there was
no change in the status of respect for religious freedom during the
period covered by this report, which was released on September 19.

Regarding religious demography in the government-controlled
areas, the report says that, "according to the most recent (2001)
population census, 94.8 percent of the permanent population in the
government-controlled area belongs to the Autocephalous Greek Orthodox
Church of Cyprus" and additionally "1.5 percent of the population is
Roman Catholic, 1 percent Protestant, 0.6 percent Muslim, 0.5 percent
Maronite Catholic, 0.3 percent Armenian Orthodox, and 1.3 percent
atheist, ‘other,’ or ‘not stated’."

On the status of religious freedom, the report notes that the 1960
Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus provides for freedom of
religion, and other laws and policies contributed to the generally
free practice of religion, and that there are constitutional and
other legal bars against religious discrimination.

"The Government generally respected religious freedom in
practice. There was no change in the status of respect for
religious freedom by the Government during the period covered by this
report. Since 2003, when restrictions on movement to the northern part
of the island were relaxed, Greek Orthodox Cypriots as well as other
religious groups have reported better access to religious sites in
the area administered by Turkish Cypriots. Turkish Cypriots enjoyed
relatively easy access to religious sites in the government-controlled
area," it says.

It adds that the Government reported that it spent 348,000 euro in
2007 for the conservation of 17 mosques and other Islamic places of
worship in the area under its control, and that the 2008 budget for
the same activities was 663,500 euros.

Furthermore it notes that conscientious objectors, including religious
ones, are exempt from active military duty; however, they are legally
required to complete an alternative military service and perform
reservist duty in the Greek Cypriot National Guard.

The Independent Authority for Investigating Complaints and Allegations
against the Police closed an investigation that resulted from
a May 2006 nongovernmental organization (NGO) complaint, filed
with the Authority and the Ombudsman regarding police treatment
of Muslim asylum seekers. Due to the fact that the NGO was unable
to provide information requested, the Independent Authority closed
the investigation. The Ombudsman’s Office received no complaints of
discrimination on religious grounds during the reporting period.

Several religious groups reported difficulties in registering
as nonprofit charities, while there were no reports of religious
prisoners or detainees in the country and there were no reports of
forced religious conversion.

Regarding improvements and positive developments concerning religious
freedom, the report notes that on 27 November 2007 the Church of
Cyprus hosted the Ninth General Assembly of the Middle East Council
of Churches with the participation of more than 100 delegates from
Christian denominations of the Middle East, and that on 13 June 2007
Church of Cyprus Archbishop Chrysostomos II flew to Rome and met
with Pope Benedict XVI for what was only the third meeting between
the heads of the two churches, the first being in the 16th century
and the second in 1967.

It adds that there were no reports of anti-Semitic incidents during
the reporting period, there were few reports of societal abuses or
discrimination based on religious affiliation, belief, or practice,
and prominent societal leaders took positive steps to promote
religious freedom.

Several religious groups complained of difficulties buying land
or constructing buildings, forcing them to rent, instead of own,
the properties where their communities meet. Furthermore, a number
of criminal cases of suspects involved in a November 2006 attack at
the English School in Nicosia were closed.

Although Turkish Cypriots occasionally reported that unused mosques
in the government-controlled area have been vandalized, the Government
of Cyprus routinely maintains and repairs them.

The report also deals with the areas under Turkish occupation. It notes
that "the basic law in the area administered by Turkish Cypriots
provides for freedom of religion, and other laws and policies
contributed to the generally free practice of religion.

"The law refers specifically to a ‘secular republic.’ However,
the politically divisive environment on Cyprus engendered some
restrictions on religious freedom, particularly for Greek Cypriots,
Armenians, and Maronites," it says.

"There were few reports of societal abuses or discrimination based
on religious affiliation, belief, or practice. The US Government
discusses religious freedom with Turkish Cypriot authorities as part
of its overall policy to promote human rights," it notes.

"According to a count in April 2006, the population in the area
was estimated at 265,100. Ninety-eight percent of this population
is, at least nominally, Sunni Muslim. An estimated 4,000, mostly
immigrant workers from Turkey of Turkish, Kurdish, or Arab origin,
are Alevis, ‘followers of Ali,’ who follow a strand of Shi’a Islam
with some pre-Islamic influences. There are also smaller numbers
of followers of other schools of Islam. There is a Turkish Cypriot
Baha’i community of approximately 200 persons. Most non-Muslims
residing in the area administered by Turkish Cypriots are foreigners
from Western Europe who are generally members of the Roman Catholic
or Anglican Churches. Approximately 10 percent of the population in
the area administered by Turkish Cypriots attends religious services
regularly," it says.

Regarding the status of religious freedom, the report says that "the
‘law’ does not recognise any specific religion, however it states
that the Vakif, the Muslim institution that regulates religious
activity for Turkish Cypriots, has the exclusive right to regulate
and administer its internal affairs and property in accordance with
Vakif laws and principles."

It notes that Turkish Cypriot authorities bar religious discrimination
and that religious organisations are not required to register with
authorities unless they wish to engage in commercial activity or apply
for tax-exempt status. There are no legal restrictions on missionary
activity, however such activity was rare.

"There is instruction in religion, ethics, and comparative religions
in two grades of the primary school system; however, it is not
compulsory. There is no formal Islamic religious instruction in
public schools, and there are no ‘state-supported’ religious schools,"
the report says.

According to the report, "the authorities generally respected religious
freedom in practice" and "there was no change in the status of respect
for religious freedom by the authorities during the period covered
by this report."

"Greek Cypriot Orthodox and Maronite Catholics were prohibited
from visiting religious sites located in military zones in the area
administered by Turkish Cypriots, since it is illegal for civilians
to enter military zones," it says, adding that "a Turkish-speaking
Protestant congregation continued to claim mistreatment at the hands of
Turkish Cypriot authorities and some members of the public, allegedly
over fears that members were proselytizing, and they also complained
they were unable to register as an ‘association’ and thus could not
establish a trust fund, construct a place of worship, or establish
a cemetery for congregants."

It notes that "in 2007 Turkish Cypriot authorities completed the
restoration of five Orthodox churches in the area administered by
Turkish Cypriots."

The US Government, through a programme implemented by the UNDP and
with the approval of Turkish Cypriot authorities, in June 2008 began
a stabilization and restoration project at the Maronite Prophet Elias
Monastery to prevent further deterioration. Turkish military objections
to traffic along the restoration road, which cut through a Turkish
military installation, halted the project, but the Turkish Cypriots
and UNDP agreed to clean up the site and fence off the monastery to
prevent damage.

"There were no reports of religious prisoners or detainees in the
area administered by Turkish Cypriots" and "there were no reports of
forced religious conversion, including of minor US citizens who had
been abducted or illegally removed from the United States, or of the
refusal to allow such citizens to be returned to the United States,"
it notes.

The report says "there were few reports of societal abuses or
discrimination based on religious affiliation, belief, or practice,"
and that "there were no reports of anti-Semitic incidents during the
reporting period."

"Greek Cypriots continued to report that vandals damaged vacant
Greek Orthodox churches and removed religious icons in the area
administered by Turkish Cypriots; there were no reported law
enforcement investigations of these incidents. According to Turkish
Cypriot leaders, in response to complaints of vandalism, some locations
were fenced for their protection," it says.