US says few reports on religious discrimination in Cyprus

September 22, 2008

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.

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