Turkey, Turkish Cypriots leaders reacts after mosque in south Cyprus was vandalized

Turkish Cypriots including TRNC leader, Mustafa Akinci, Prime Minister, Ersin Tatar and Deputy Prime Minister, Kudret Özersay  on Monday condemned racist slogan and vandalism at a mosque in Limassol, south Cyprus.

Petrol bombs were thrown into the premises of the Koprulu mosque on Monday and the outer wall was vandalised with racist graffiti slogan against Islam and immigrants.

Reacting to the incident, Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci condemned the incident which he described as an act of Islamophobia and racism. He called on the Greek Cypriot side to act swiftly to investigate, identify, apprehend and punish those responsible.

He said that such acts should not be tolerated and that all places of worship, irrelevant of which religion, were scared sanctuaries which needed to be respected.

TRNC Prime Minister’ Ersin Tatar said “The attack with three Molotov cocktails thrown at the Köprülü Mosque in the Limassol district is unacceptable.” He called on the Greek Cypriot authorities to catch the perpetrators as soon as possible. 

We are saddened to see that even with the coronavirus pandemic, there are some in South Cyprus who wait for opportunities to attack foreigners, specifically Muslims, and their prayer sites, Tatar said.

Deputy Prime Minister Foreign Minister Kudret Özersay also issued a message via social media condemning the attack. He said the attack was unacceptable and called for those responsible to be detained and punished quickly.

I condemn the attacks against the Köprülü Mosque in Limassol and I believe the xenophobic, Islamophobic and outdated way of thinking in South Cyprus is unacceptable, said Özersay.

The government of Cyprus and religious leaders of the five main faith communities of Cyprus –  Greek Orthodox, Muslim, Armenian Orthodox, Maronite and Latin Catholic also condemned the incident.

The religious leaders expressed their “united voice” in condemning the acts of vandalism which took place on Sunday night.

We categorically condemn any and all acts of vandalism and disrespect done to sacred places of worship and we are horrified to see such acts of violence and expression of Islamophobia, xenophobia and discrimination, they said.

For the past four years, the statement said, the Koprulu mosque in the Ayios Antonios neighbourhood in Limassol has been one of the positive examples of good and respectful cooperation of all stakeholders involved and the local community association advancing religious freedom.

As such, acts like these are not only disrespectful to the religious community but to all those who work together to advance respect, human rights and freedom of religion, the religious leaders said.

Turkey also condemned the incident as Vice-President Fuat Oktay denounced the attack on his social media account.

I condemn the attack on the historic Köprülü Mosque in Limassol district, South Cyprus. I invite Greek Cypriot authorities to take sincere action in the face of these attacks and catch the perpetrators as soon as possible. Turkey will always stand against violence” Oktay said on Twitter.