Greek Orthodox church sues Turkey over access to religious sites in Cyprus

[Pastor Dale Morgan]

*Perilous Times

Greek Orthodox church sues Turkey over access to religious sites in Cyprus*

Church goes before European court alleging Greek Cypriot faithful barred
from worshipping in Turkish-controlled north

* Associated Press in Nicosia
* The Guardian, Tuesday 24 November 2009


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.