The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned the recent attack on the Arnavut mosque in Limassol.
Unknown vandals defaced the religious structure with various inscriptions.
In a statement condemning the attack, the Foreign Ministry said that the frequent occurrence of such attacks revealed the racist mentality and Islamophobia as well as the intolerance towards Turkish existence on the island.
The recent spate of attacks on historical mosques in South Cyprus, including the Ibrahim Pasha Mosque, the Larnaca Great Mosque, and the Denya Mosque, cannot be viewed in isolation from previous incidents. These recurrent assaults reflect a disturbing trend of intolerance towards Turkish and Islamic heritage, representing a clear manifestation of the racist sentiments prevailing in the South,” a statement issued by the ministry read.
It said that the repetition of such attacks underscores the entrenched discriminatory mindset towards Turkish and Islamic presence in the region.
“Despite the regular allowances granted to Greek Cypriot residents for collective worship in their chosen churches across various cities, Turkish Cypriots have faced significant obstacles in exercising their religious rights. Since 2019, out of numerous requests for collective visits to mosques and tekkes (Islamic spiritual lodges) in South Cyprus, only one has been granted this year, and even then, worshippers were not permitted to pray with their chosen imams,” the ministry said.
It pointed out that the consistent targeting of mosques over the years, coupled with the impunity enjoyed by the perpetrators, lays bare the disparity in the approach of the two sides regarding religious freedoms.
“These attacks highlight a significant vision gap and a concerning lack of tolerance and reciprocity towards religious freedoms. The recurrent attacks on Turkish Cypriot mosques in South Cyprus, left unpunished over the years, not only embolden the offenders but also indicate tacit approval from the Greek Cypriot administration. We urge the Greek Cypriot authorities to break this cycle of impunity by swiftly identifying and punishing the perpetrators of this latest assault on our cultural and religious heritage. We call upon them to take all necessary measures to prevent such attacks from recurring in the future,” the statement concluded.brt
