The Cyprus government has expressed regret for the fact that the self-styled authorities of Turkish Cypriot regime in the island’s northern Turkish occupied areas have prohibited Greek Cypriot pilgrims from attending a mass at Saint Mamas church in occupied Morphou.
Morphou municipality and Morphou Bishopric have condemned the decision, noting that this is the first time for years that permission was not granted to hold a religious service to celebrate the Saint’s name day.
Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides invited to comment on the matter, said that “it is regrettable that for the first time after many years the occupation regime took this decision, which does not respond to the current climate in which such pilgrimages take place” on both sides of the divide.
He said he hopes the occupation regime will not provide an explanation to its stance which would prevent future pilgrimages to occupied churches.
The Municipality of Morphou denounced the decision in a statement, describing it as unacceptable. It called on the so called authorities to review their decision even at the eleventh hour.
“Unfortunately for the first time since 2003, our Municipality is obliged to inform its citizens that they will not be able this year to honour the Patron Saint of our town in occupied Morphou,” the press release noted.
It also said that the decision of the occupation authorities further deteriorates the already tense climate due to the recent collapse of the talks on the Cyprus problem.
The regime said that they did not allow the pilgrimage to take place as the Feast of the Sacrifice (Kurban Bayram) is being celebrated by Muslims during the same period. The Municipality rejected this approach, noting that in this way the Turkish side indirectly admits that it never had the intention to work towards the reunification of Cyprus.
Meanwhile, Morphou Bishopric said in a press release that it denounces the decision of the occupation authorities to prohibit the pilgrimage that would have taken place on September 1, 2 and 3.
It also points out that nothing should hinder Christians and Muslmis from celebrating in parallel. “There cannot be religious freedom only for one of these two religious groups,” it added.
It said that the regime`s act to prohibit the pilgrimage is unacceptable and contrary to international law and to Article 18 on the right to freedom of thought and religion of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
“Moreover we consider that such acts place more obstacles in the path that would lead to the reunification of the island, since there can be no Cyprus settlement by putting limitations to basic human rights and more specifially to religious freedom,” it added.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory. The latest round of UN-backed negotiations, in Crans Montana, ended inconclusively. Peace talks aim at reuniting the island under a federal roof.