Hopes for Jehovahs Witnesses and other religious minorities in Northern Cyprus -(05.11.2003)

Hopes for Jehovahs Witnesses and other religious minorities in Northern Cyprus

South West Press Agency Ltd? for HRWF Int. SWPAltd@aol.com?? PMStevenson@aol.com

HRWF Int. (05.11.2003) Email info@hrwf.net - Website http://www.hrwf.net - Lefkosa, Northern Cyprus. For the first time in nearly 30 years, Jehovah's Witnesses are free to practice their Christian faith and meet together for worship in northern Cyprus. Some 304 Witnesses from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Turkey, Britain, Germany, Sweden, Canada and the USA celebrated on Sunday by sharing two hours of Bible study, prayer and singing of holy songs in their new place of worship in Lefkosa (Nicosia), the capital city.

The Witnesses warmly applauded M?te Ser, from their Istanbul centre, when he said: "We would like to express our appreciation to Mr Denktas and the government of northern Cyprus for making it possible for us to follow our religion, just as we do in 238 countries around the world. TRNC is a secular democratic government. Our rights are recognised here as in other democratic governments.'

There had been little activity by the Witnesses in northern Cyprus since 1974, a spokesman said, but four years ago groups started meeting privately in Lefkosa (Nicosia), Girne (Kyrenia) and Gazi Magusa (Famagusta).

Asked why it had taken four years for them to achieve juridical recognition and freedom to worship publicly, Mr Rauf? Denktas, the Turkish Cypriot leader, said in the course of a 30-minute exclusive interview: "For four years we did not hear them say what they wanted. When they did find their path to my door for the first time, then we started to investigate. When the reality came to me, we said that they, of course, were free to practice their religion here.

"There is no prohibition for any religion, and there was no prohibition for these people to practice their religion. They wanted a building in order to start meeting there for their religion, and we didn't connect the two."

Asked whether this meant that the Witnesses now had full juridical freedom to buy property, open bank accounts and preach the good news, Mr Denktas? replied: "If they are residents here, then they can apply to the Council of Ministers for permission to buy a property, as long as it is not a vast area. They can buy building sites, they can buy buildings and apartments, and so on. For large building sites or property, they are going to have to convince the Council of Ministers that they are going to make an economic contribution to the country."

We asked him what rights other religious minorities have in northern Cyprus.

"Well," he said, "we have Catholics, and Maronites who are responsible to the Vatican: although they have chosen under the 1960 Constitution to be treated as a Greek Cypriot community, they have special religious privileges, but no, there is no restriction at all, because everyone is free."

Even for opening bank accounts, owning property, buying places to meet and worship?

Mr Denktas? replied: "They have some difficulty with properties; people who left the north and went south in 1974, and naturally these properties were taken by either the people of the army in some cases. Now the question is how and when we shall hand them back to them, when we come to a solution. This problem is on the agenda."

What is the position for the Greek Orthodox? "Well, there are about 500 to 600 in the north. They are free to exercise their religion. The Apostolos Andreas monastery is open for religious ceremonies. They come from the south on special days in large groups, because there is no restriction on their religious exercises."

And the clergy, are they free? "Sometimes it happens that the priest of the village has to be changed; either he is old or he has died. All we want from the other side is for them to give us two or three names, from which we make a selection."

Why?? "Because the church is very much involved in the affairs of terrorism, and the problem of militant priests." By way of explanation of the expression 'militant priests', Mr Denktas referred to the late Archbishop Makarios as 'the Milosevic of Cyprus.'

Is this the world community's perception of the Cyprus problem? "You should look at the US State Department's annual report on human rights. We respect human rights."

Was it possible that the elections of December 14 could change the TRNC's current stance on religious freedom, making the current scene like a Prague spring?? "No," said the Turkish Cypriot leader: "Whatever happens in the election, the liberal approach will continue."

Mr Ahmet Erdingiz, Director of Political Affairs, commenting on the delay in granting freedom of worship to the Christian groups like the Witnesses, said: "Until 1997-2001 there were no efforts to restore their rights. When I returned (from serving as the country's representative in Washington) I helped them to get in touch with the President and the Prime minister, and a momentum developed.? Their activities had been curtailed in Turkey, but when they were free in Turkey, they moved here. The President himself saw this as a human rights issue. He said to all his officials: 'We simply cannot stop people worshipping their God. They need a place of worship.'

"The President single-handedly made this a human rights issue. They are all free to practice their religion and preach their message. The Church of England has its church, St Andrews, in Girne; the Catholic Maronites, Greek Orthodox, smaller protestant sects, and others meet regularly. The Bahai faith have their annual meetings in TRNC. Many Turkish Cypriot Jehovah's Witnesses now want to return. A couple from north London will be settling here next week."

When I spoke to the young couple concerned, they said they would be moving to northern Cyprus permanently. The husband told me that he would make a payment of 4,000 in lieu of national military service, which his Christian conscience would not permit him to serve.