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REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS REAFFIRMS RESPECT TO FREEDOM OF RELIGION
http://www.gibrahayer.com/
The Special Rapporteur also refers to the very poor condition of the
Armenian Monastery in Halefka, which he visited, and he strongly
recommends the future use by the Armenians of the Armenian Church in
occupied Nicosia, which was recently restored," it notes.
Nicosia, Feb 21 (Cyprus News Agency) - The Republic of Cyprus, on the
occasion of the recent release of a report by UN Special Rapporteur on
freedom of religion or belief Heiner Bielefeldt, on his mission to
Cyprus from 29 March to 5 April 2012, "reaffirms its full respect for
the fundamental human right of freedom of religion or belief."
In a press release, it is noted that "the Special Rapporteur`s Report
and his recommendations will be thoroughly evaluated by the competent
authorities of the Republic of Cyprus."
"The Republic of Cyprus agrees with the observation of the Special
Rapporteur that the Cyprus problem does not originate from religious
differences, as well as with his support for the commendable work of
the Bicommunal Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage, which should
be strengthened," it says.
It adds that, regarding the religious freedom of the enclaved, whom
the Special Rapporteur visited, "the Report refers, inter alia, to the
vandalism of religious monuments and cemeteries, the limited presence
of priests, the intimidation provoked by the so-called `police` taking
photographs during religious services and the `restrictive and unfair
handling of inheritance claims`."
"A reference is also made to the unacceptable placing of the Bishop of
Karpasia on a `stop list` since January 2012," it says.
The press release adds that "the Special Rapporteur calls for the
respect of the fundamental human right of religious freedom, of the
1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the
Event of Armed Conflict, and the Third Vienna Agreement of 1975" and
"also recommends that `the de-facto authorities` should respect the
right of religious leaders to visit their communities without undue
restrictions."
"Specific reference is also made to the religious sites of the
Maronites, to which they do not have regular access since they are
located in `military compounds` and to the far from satisfactory
condition of their cemeteries. The Special Rapporteur also refers to
the very poor condition of the Armenian Monastery in Halefka, which he
visited, and he strongly recommends the future use by the Armenians of
the Armenian Church in occupied Nicosia, which was recently restored,"
it notes.
It adds that "the Special Rapporteur also reaffirms the close
surveillance to which the so-called `police` subjects religious groups
in the occupied part of Cyprus" and that "the reference in paragraph
49 that a plain clothes `police officer` tried to observe a meeting of
the Special Rapporteur with the Maronite villagers is indicative."
"The Report also makes particular reference to the impact of the
illegal colonization in the occupied areas to the religious identity
of the Turkish Cypriots, as well as to the imposition of mandatory
religious instruction in the occupied areas. The oppressive regime in
occupied Cyprus is also exposed by the non-acceptance of the right to
conscientious objection to military service," it says.
The press release notes that, "regarding the references to the Muslim
sites in the Government-controlled areas, it should be stressed that
the Republic of Cyprus systematically restores all such places of
worship and cemeteries in the Government-controlled areas."
"Moreover, the lack of `minimum infrastructure` to some of the Muslim
cemeteries in the Government-controlled areas can be attributed, to an
extent, to the restriction of movement to the Government-controlled
areas, imposed by the Turkish occupation regime, to the Turkish
Cypriots for decades," it says.
It notes that "the Republic of Cyprus fully respects the religious
rights of the Turkish Cypriots and facilitates their visits to the
places of worship in the Government-controlled areas."
"Foreign pilgrims are also welcome to exercise their religious rights
provided that they have entered the territory of the Republic of
Cyprus legally. However, the colonization of the occupied areas of
Cyprus violates the 4th Geneva Convention and constitutes a `war
crime` according to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal
Court. In this regard, while the Government does not disagree with the
general approach of the Special Rapporteur that religious freedom
should not depend on `citizenship`, however the issue of illegal
colonization has a serious particularity which cannot be overlooked or
minimized," it says.
The Report will be presented during a plenary session of the Human
Rights Council on March 5, 2013.
http://www.gibrahayer.com/
The Special Rapporteur also refers to the very poor condition of the
Armenian Monastery in Halefka, which he visited, and he strongly
recommends the future use by the Armenians of the Armenian Church in
occupied Nicosia, which was recently restored," it notes.
Nicosia, Feb 21 (Cyprus News Agency) - The Republic of Cyprus, on the
occasion of the recent release of a report by UN Special Rapporteur on
freedom of religion or belief Heiner Bielefeldt, on his mission to
Cyprus from 29 March to 5 April 2012, "reaffirms its full respect for
the fundamental human right of freedom of religion or belief."
In a press release, it is noted that "the Special Rapporteur`s Report
and his recommendations will be thoroughly evaluated by the competent
authorities of the Republic of Cyprus."
"The Republic of Cyprus agrees with the observation of the Special
Rapporteur that the Cyprus problem does not originate from religious
differences, as well as with his support for the commendable work of
the Bicommunal Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage, which should
be strengthened," it says.
It adds that, regarding the religious freedom of the enclaved, whom
the Special Rapporteur visited, "the Report refers, inter alia, to the
vandalism of religious monuments and cemeteries, the limited presence
of priests, the intimidation provoked by the so-called `police` taking
photographs during religious services and the `restrictive and unfair
handling of inheritance claims`."
"A reference is also made to the unacceptable placing of the Bishop of
Karpasia on a `stop list` since January 2012," it says.
The press release adds that "the Special Rapporteur calls for the
respect of the fundamental human right of religious freedom, of the
1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the
Event of Armed Conflict, and the Third Vienna Agreement of 1975" and
"also recommends that `the de-facto authorities` should respect the
right of religious leaders to visit their communities without undue
restrictions."
"Specific reference is also made to the religious sites of the
Maronites, to which they do not have regular access since they are
located in `military compounds` and to the far from satisfactory
condition of their cemeteries. The Special Rapporteur also refers to
the very poor condition of the Armenian Monastery in Halefka, which he
visited, and he strongly recommends the future use by the Armenians of
the Armenian Church in occupied Nicosia, which was recently restored,"
it notes.
It adds that "the Special Rapporteur also reaffirms the close
surveillance to which the so-called `police` subjects religious groups
in the occupied part of Cyprus" and that "the reference in paragraph
49 that a plain clothes `police officer` tried to observe a meeting of
the Special Rapporteur with the Maronite villagers is indicative."
"The Report also makes particular reference to the impact of the
illegal colonization in the occupied areas to the religious identity
of the Turkish Cypriots, as well as to the imposition of mandatory
religious instruction in the occupied areas. The oppressive regime in
occupied Cyprus is also exposed by the non-acceptance of the right to
conscientious objection to military service," it says.
The press release notes that, "regarding the references to the Muslim
sites in the Government-controlled areas, it should be stressed that
the Republic of Cyprus systematically restores all such places of
worship and cemeteries in the Government-controlled areas."
"Moreover, the lack of `minimum infrastructure` to some of the Muslim
cemeteries in the Government-controlled areas can be attributed, to an
extent, to the restriction of movement to the Government-controlled
areas, imposed by the Turkish occupation regime, to the Turkish
Cypriots for decades," it says.
It notes that "the Republic of Cyprus fully respects the religious
rights of the Turkish Cypriots and facilitates their visits to the
places of worship in the Government-controlled areas."
"Foreign pilgrims are also welcome to exercise their religious rights
provided that they have entered the territory of the Republic of
Cyprus legally. However, the colonization of the occupied areas of
Cyprus violates the 4th Geneva Convention and constitutes a `war
crime` according to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal
Court. In this regard, while the Government does not disagree with the
general approach of the Special Rapporteur that religious freedom
should not depend on `citizenship`, however the issue of illegal
colonization has a serious particularity which cannot be overlooked or
minimized," it says.
The Report will be presented during a plenary session of the Human
Rights Council on March 5, 2013.