Showing posts with label Location: Cyprus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Location: Cyprus. Show all posts
Cyprus: Gov't accuses Turks of politicizing mosque arson
Cyprus: Gov't accuses Turks of politicizing mosque arson
Labels:
anti-Islamism,
Crime,
Group: Turks,
Location: Cyprus,
MainNews,
Mosques and Imams
Cyprus: OIC welcomes Turkish Cypriot request to join
Cyprus: OIC welcomes Turkish Cypriot request to join
Via AFP (h/t DW)
Via AFP (h/t DW)
The head of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference welcomed Saturday a request by the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) to open a permanent mission to the pan-Muslim body.
"The organisation welcomes this and is in contact with the host state (Saudi Arabia) to study and implement it," OIC chief Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, who is a Turkish national, told reporters after meeting Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu.(source)
Labels:
Group: Turks,
Location: Cyprus,
MainNews,
Muslim World
Cyprus: Pop hits halt call to prayer
Cyprus: Pop hits halt call to prayer
Via Famagusta Gazette (h/t Turkish Digest):
Via Famagusta Gazette (h/t Turkish Digest):
THE religious affairs directorate in the Turkish controlled sector of Cyprus has claimed that deliberate interference caused popular Greek-Cypriot radio programmes to broadcast from mosque rooftops instead of the Islamic call to prayer.
Due to interference in radio frequencies which link the mosques PA systems, Greek pop hits could be heard yesterday blasting through the air.(source)
Labels:
Location: Cyprus,
Mosques and Imams
Cyprus: Turkish Cypriots agree to repel ban on homosexuality
Cyprus: Turkish Cypriots agree to repel ban on homosexuality
Via the Parliament (h/t Turkish Digest):
Via the Parliament (h/t Turkish Digest):
Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu has agreed to repeal a ban on homosexuality in the northern part of Cyprus.
It comes after an outcry over the arrest of three men accused of "conspiring to have a sexual intercourse against the order of nature".
(source)
Labels:
Location: Cyprus,
Marriage and Family,
Sharia
Northern Cyprus: Turkish forces close churches on Christmas
Northern Cyprus: Turkish forces close churches on Christmas
Via Greek Reporter (h/t Winds of Jihad):
Via Greek Reporter (h/t Winds of Jihad):
Turkish forces in the occupied area of Karpasia in Northern Cyprus have presented a new challenge regarding the celebration of Christmas by Christians living in the territory. For the first time in 36 years Christians trapped in the occupied area were forbidden from celebrating Christmas.
(source)
Labels:
Group: Turks,
Holidays,
Location: Cyprus
Cyrpus: "Muslims are our brothers"
Cyrpus: "Muslims are our brothers"
A day after Cypriot religious and political leaders lashed out at Turkey, whose troops have occupied northern Cyprus since 1974, Pope Benedict XVI on Saturday met briefly with a Muslim religious leader from the Turkish North.
A day after Cypriot religious and political leaders lashed out at Turkey, whose troops have occupied northern Cyprus since 1974, Pope Benedict XVI on Saturday met briefly with a Muslim religious leader from the Turkish North.
Labels:
Location: Cyprus,
Location: Vatican
Cyprus: Fears of flood of Palestinian immigrants
Cyprus: Fears of flood of Palestinian immigrants
Cyprus fears a flood of Palestinian immigrants from the Gaza Strip owing to Israel's refusal to lift its blockade, Interior Minister Neoklis Sylikiotis said on Thursday.
This article was prepared by the Islam in Europe blog - islamineurope.blogspot.com
Cyprus fears a flood of Palestinian immigrants from the Gaza Strip owing to Israel's refusal to lift its blockade, Interior Minister Neoklis Sylikiotis said on Thursday.
This article was prepared by the Islam in Europe blog - islamineurope.blogspot.com
"The new developments in the Middle East lead us to fear that more and more Palestinians from the Gaza Strip will seek refuge in Cyprus," he told reporters on arrival for a meeting with EU counterparts in Luxembourg.
"We have already seen more than 2,000 Palestinians coming in from Iraq, and soon we are going to have more and more refugees," he underlined.
Sylikiotis said he would raise his fears with fellow European Union home ministers seeking greater load-sharing.
(more)
Source: France24 (English)
Cyprus: Criticism of bar constructed in mosque garden
Cyprus: Criticism of bar constructed in mosque garden
Turkish Republic or Northern Cyprus's (KKTC) Directorate of Religious Affairs has applied to state offices in Greek Cyprus to stop the construction of a bar in the garden of the Hala Mosque, which houses the tomb of Ümmü Haram, the aunt of the Prophet Muhammad, in South Cyprus, which has resulted in criticism from Muslims living on the island.
"Religious values should be respected in order for relations between the two sides to remain positive," said the director of religious affairs in the KKTC, Yusuf Suiçmez, adding that being respectful of religious values is a way to show respect to the people. He also recalled that the mosque was renovated with the help of the United Nations and underlined that the tomb is very important for Muslims.
The head of the Religious Worker's Union, Mehmet Dere, said the construction of a bar in the garden of an important mosque would be hurtful to the Muslims on the island. Dere stated that even in the bloodiest of wars, acts that would harm houses of worship were avoided. "The Greeks know in their territory there are some traces left from the Ottoman Empire. They should stop the construction," said Dere.
The imam of the Hala Mosque, Şakir Alemdar, complained that none of their applications have been answered by officials and categorized the construction of the bar unacceptable. "If the construction goes on and officials do not intervene to stop it, we would make this incident more public to the world. What they are trying to construct in the garden of the mosque is not in accordance with the values [of Islam]. It is not an issue related to the KKTC but to the entire Muslim world. Every Muslim should be paying attention to this," he noted.
Source: Today's Zaman (English), h/t IslamOnline
Turkish Republic or Northern Cyprus's (KKTC) Directorate of Religious Affairs has applied to state offices in Greek Cyprus to stop the construction of a bar in the garden of the Hala Mosque, which houses the tomb of Ümmü Haram, the aunt of the Prophet Muhammad, in South Cyprus, which has resulted in criticism from Muslims living on the island.
"Religious values should be respected in order for relations between the two sides to remain positive," said the director of religious affairs in the KKTC, Yusuf Suiçmez, adding that being respectful of religious values is a way to show respect to the people. He also recalled that the mosque was renovated with the help of the United Nations and underlined that the tomb is very important for Muslims.
The head of the Religious Worker's Union, Mehmet Dere, said the construction of a bar in the garden of an important mosque would be hurtful to the Muslims on the island. Dere stated that even in the bloodiest of wars, acts that would harm houses of worship were avoided. "The Greeks know in their territory there are some traces left from the Ottoman Empire. They should stop the construction," said Dere.
The imam of the Hala Mosque, Şakir Alemdar, complained that none of their applications have been answered by officials and categorized the construction of the bar unacceptable. "If the construction goes on and officials do not intervene to stop it, we would make this incident more public to the world. What they are trying to construct in the garden of the mosque is not in accordance with the values [of Islam]. It is not an issue related to the KKTC but to the entire Muslim world. Every Muslim should be paying attention to this," he noted.
Source: Today's Zaman (English), h/t IslamOnline
Labels:
Location: Cyprus
Nicosia: Discussions on additional mosques
Nicosia: Discussions on additional mosques
OFFICIALS from the Interior Ministry and Nicosia Municipality have met to discuss arrangements for opening up more mosques around Nicosia.
The meeting was deemed necessary after clashes between two groups of worshippers earlier this month at the Omeriye mosque in Nicosia’s old town. The conflict highlighted the need to look at the underlying causes and accommodate the different needs of Muslims living in Nicosia.
The meeting on Wednesday looked specifically at the possibilities of reopening existing mosques around the city – and even creating new ones.
Nicosia Mayor, Eleni Mavrou, said “The meeting was really an exchange of information and opinions about arrangements for different mosques in the city.
“The outcome of the meeting was that the Interior Ministry will contact imams and the embassies involved – such as the Libyan Embassy and Turkish Cypriot imams – fill in the blanks as far as organisation and overall arrangements are concerned.
“When this is done, we will be meeting again to exchange views on how to proceed.
“As far as the Omeriye mosque is concerned, the Interior Ministry is collecting information on arrangements there. The ministry and the antiquities department are also set to discuss restoration works.
“The mosque will probably have to close for a certain period while works are under way, so we have to see what solution can be found to accommodate the congregation during that time. It will be essential to make other arrangements for as long as the mosque is closed.”
(more)
Source: Cyprus Mail
OFFICIALS from the Interior Ministry and Nicosia Municipality have met to discuss arrangements for opening up more mosques around Nicosia.
The meeting was deemed necessary after clashes between two groups of worshippers earlier this month at the Omeriye mosque in Nicosia’s old town. The conflict highlighted the need to look at the underlying causes and accommodate the different needs of Muslims living in Nicosia.
The meeting on Wednesday looked specifically at the possibilities of reopening existing mosques around the city – and even creating new ones.
Nicosia Mayor, Eleni Mavrou, said “The meeting was really an exchange of information and opinions about arrangements for different mosques in the city.
“The outcome of the meeting was that the Interior Ministry will contact imams and the embassies involved – such as the Libyan Embassy and Turkish Cypriot imams – fill in the blanks as far as organisation and overall arrangements are concerned.
“When this is done, we will be meeting again to exchange views on how to proceed.
“As far as the Omeriye mosque is concerned, the Interior Ministry is collecting information on arrangements there. The ministry and the antiquities department are also set to discuss restoration works.
“The mosque will probably have to close for a certain period while works are under way, so we have to see what solution can be found to accommodate the congregation during that time. It will be essential to make other arrangements for as long as the mosque is closed.”
(more)
Source: Cyprus Mail
Labels:
Location: Cyprus,
Mosques and Imams
Cyprus: Police stops mosque clashes, warns of irresponsible reporting
Cyprus: Police stops mosque clashes, warns of irresponsible reporting
CLASHES between rival groups of Muslims at Nicosia's Omeriye Mosque were averted on Tuesday night and last night by a strong police presence. The move follows Monday night's pitched battle, which some said may have involved as many as 500 people using stones, sticks and pipes.
Nicosia police chief Kypros Michaelides told state radio yesterday that police had contacted the mosque's imam and other clerics to advise them of the police's determination to prevent the development of undesirable situations. He said that "if any migrant is found to be acting outside of the law, he will be pursued and deported to his home country", adding that four people have already been charged in relation to Monday night's clash, and further arrests are expected.
Michaelides also condemned some of yesterday's media reports which referred to "ghettos" and "anarchy" in Nicosia's old town. He said that "things aren't the way they are being presented in the media", adding that "the situation is causing us concern".
"I can't say that any kind of anarchy is prevailing, or that there are ghettos where people are afraid to pass through."
It has not been easy to establish exactly what happened on Monday and why, as claims and counterclaims have fed into the media. Another factor is the lack of familiarity in the media with the main characteristics and issues which resulted in the dramatic events.
What has now emerged is that the underlying cause of the violence was the insistence by one group of Muslims who regularly used the mosque to preach an interpretation of Islam that was not acceptable to the Sunni majority.
Another factor, which has heightened tensions considerably, is that the majority of worshippers are mainly Arabic-speaking with strong roots in Cyprus, and the "dissident" group are mainly non-Arabic-speaking Pakistanis who mostly arrived recently as economic migrants.
(more)
POLICE WARNED yesterday that irresponsible reporting of the events surrounding the Omeriye Mosque in Nicosia could help fuel racial hatred.
Police spokesman Michalis Katsounotos, commenting on press reports which made unsubstantiated references to Islamic "extremists" and talked of the "madness of an enraged mob", said: "We are living in a European country which needs to deal with multiculturalism, in both its positive and negative aspects. We must accept differences relating to skin-colour and religion, for example."
"If what is published does not stand up to scrutiny, then we will start to cultivate racial hatred and racism," he added.
Katsounotos said that getting to grips with multiculturalism is a two-way street, pointing out that "immigrants also need to respect the laws and rules of the host society."
Yesterday's Phileleftheros carried an article under the headline "Extremists ready to act", which described those taking part in the recent disturbances as "fanatical Muslims". The article said: "The police are afraid that the incidents might spread to other towns, while there is information about activity by extremists, although this has not been confirmed."
"Of course the police have concerns, but we don't want to overinflate the matter, nor understate the possibilities. Reporting must be serious and objective, as exaggeration does not help in any way," said Katsounotos.
(more)
Source: Cyprus Mail 1, 2 (English)
CLASHES between rival groups of Muslims at Nicosia's Omeriye Mosque were averted on Tuesday night and last night by a strong police presence. The move follows Monday night's pitched battle, which some said may have involved as many as 500 people using stones, sticks and pipes.
Nicosia police chief Kypros Michaelides told state radio yesterday that police had contacted the mosque's imam and other clerics to advise them of the police's determination to prevent the development of undesirable situations. He said that "if any migrant is found to be acting outside of the law, he will be pursued and deported to his home country", adding that four people have already been charged in relation to Monday night's clash, and further arrests are expected.
Michaelides also condemned some of yesterday's media reports which referred to "ghettos" and "anarchy" in Nicosia's old town. He said that "things aren't the way they are being presented in the media", adding that "the situation is causing us concern".
"I can't say that any kind of anarchy is prevailing, or that there are ghettos where people are afraid to pass through."
It has not been easy to establish exactly what happened on Monday and why, as claims and counterclaims have fed into the media. Another factor is the lack of familiarity in the media with the main characteristics and issues which resulted in the dramatic events.
What has now emerged is that the underlying cause of the violence was the insistence by one group of Muslims who regularly used the mosque to preach an interpretation of Islam that was not acceptable to the Sunni majority.
Another factor, which has heightened tensions considerably, is that the majority of worshippers are mainly Arabic-speaking with strong roots in Cyprus, and the "dissident" group are mainly non-Arabic-speaking Pakistanis who mostly arrived recently as economic migrants.
(more)
POLICE WARNED yesterday that irresponsible reporting of the events surrounding the Omeriye Mosque in Nicosia could help fuel racial hatred.
Police spokesman Michalis Katsounotos, commenting on press reports which made unsubstantiated references to Islamic "extremists" and talked of the "madness of an enraged mob", said: "We are living in a European country which needs to deal with multiculturalism, in both its positive and negative aspects. We must accept differences relating to skin-colour and religion, for example."
"If what is published does not stand up to scrutiny, then we will start to cultivate racial hatred and racism," he added.
Katsounotos said that getting to grips with multiculturalism is a two-way street, pointing out that "immigrants also need to respect the laws and rules of the host society."
Yesterday's Phileleftheros carried an article under the headline "Extremists ready to act", which described those taking part in the recent disturbances as "fanatical Muslims". The article said: "The police are afraid that the incidents might spread to other towns, while there is information about activity by extremists, although this has not been confirmed."
"Of course the police have concerns, but we don't want to overinflate the matter, nor understate the possibilities. Reporting must be serious and objective, as exaggeration does not help in any way," said Katsounotos.
(more)
Source: Cyprus Mail 1, 2 (English)
Labels:
Location: Cyprus,
Mosques and Imams
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