Church of Cyprus to Take Legal Action Against Turkey
2008-04-10 12:15:28
Nicosia, Apr 8 - The Church of Cyprus has decided to take legal action
against Turkey at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) for the
destruction of Cyprus' religious heritage in the Turkish occupied areas of
the island.
Archbishop of the Church of Cyprus Chrysostomos II has said that the
decision "is final" and added that the legal advisors of the Cypriot
Church
are ready to proceed with the case.
"We have already assigned the case to our lawyers and we are in the
process
of registering all properties of the Church of Cyprus all over the island
with the Land Registry", he said.
Since the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus about 550 churches have been
desecrated and 15,000-20,000 icons are missing, believed to be stolen or
sold on the black market.
Some Orthodox Churches situated in the Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus
have
been converted to mosques, military camps, barns, mortuaries or silos.
http://www.cyprusembassy.net/home/index.php?module=article&id=4254
