TRNC to take legal action against bus driver who taunted a priest in Dipkarpaz monastery

Legal action has been initiated against a Turkish bus driver who went viral on social media after taunting a priest at the Apostolos Andreas monastery in Dipkarpaz, said TRNC Minister of Interior, Dursun Oguz on Thursday.

The incident happened at around 11:30am on Wednesday, August, 16 at the Apostolos Andreas church located in Zaferburnu in Dipkarpaz when one a Turkish bus driver, Mehmet Erol Muavili, 43 went to the priest in charge of the church and recorded him on his mobile phone.

Muavili, had driven a group of tourists to the Apostolos Andreas monastery. He entered the church himself and began recording himself reciting Islamic prayers.

At a certain point in the video, he chased after the priest, confronting him and repeating the prayers. The priest became irritated and ordered him to leave, before proceeding to ignore him.

Muavili then posted the video on social media on Wednesday evening before later taking it down after receiving a fierce backlash from Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots alike.

He was summoned to the Police Station and within the scope of the investigation carried out regarding the issue, legal action was initiated against him for the offenses of disturbance and inappropriate behavior. 

Speaking on the issue, TRNC minister of Interior said; “Apostolos Andreas is considered one of the most important places of worship in our country today. There are many variations in religious freedoms and worship in the TRNC. Respect for religious beliefs and lifestyles is very important.”

“In this regard, discriminatory, provocative, and harassing behaviours are unacceptable. For this reason, a complaint was made to the police to initiate the necessary legal action … over this behaviour, which was aimed at disrupting the social peace.”

A man who took a group of tourists to the Apostolos Andreas monastery in Dikarpaz, north Cyprus filmed himself harassing a priest while reciting Islamic prayers. The incident happened on Wed, August, 16. Legal actions has been initiated against him by the TRNC interior minister. pic.twitter.com/F5wOa0Ys1t

— Olomoinfo (@Olomoinfo) August 17, 2023