Mehmet Erol Muavili, a citizen of the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), approached a priest at the Apostolos Andreas Monastery and recited the ‘Kelime-i Şehadet’ (Islamic declaration of faith), later sharing the video on social media.
The Apostolos Andreas Monastery, located at the tip of the Karpaz Peninsula in the part of Cyprus occupied by Turkey, is a significant religious site. The incident took place as Muavili was guiding tourists to the monastery.
The video quickly attracted sharp criticism from the public, leading Muavili to remove it and issue an apology. He stated, “I did not know that this sharing would attract so much reaction. I removed my post so that the incident would not be taken to different points. If I have committed a crime in today’s sharing, I apologise to the public.”
However, the TRNC Interior Minister Dursun Oğuz condemned the incident, emphasising the importance of religious freedom and respect for different beliefs in the region. In a written statement, he said, “In the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, there is a lot of diversity in religious freedoms and worship. Respect for religious beliefs and practices is also very important and a sensitive issue. Therefore, divisive, provocative, harassing situations and behaviours are unacceptable.”
The minister further announced that legal proceedings had been initiated against Muavili, reflecting the government’s commitment to maintaining religious harmony.
It’s worth noting that the TRNC is recognised only by Turkey and is considered by the international community to be part of the Republic of Cyprus.
The incident in Northern Cyprus reflects a broader pattern of religious tensions and threats in Turkey and regions under Turkish influence. Recent events have highlighted the precarious state of religious freedoms in these areas.
In Turkey, Mehmet Çolak, a preacher at the Liberation Church in Malatya, reported receiving death threats by a group calling themselves the Turkish Revenge Brigade. The incident occurred on 10 August 2023, in Izmir, and included threats of beheading and demands to change religion.
Furthermore, a report by Turkey’s Freedom of Belief Initiative uncovered 36 religious hate crimes in Turkey in 2022, targeting various communities, including Alevis, Christians, Jews and Yazidis. The report called for comprehensive legislation and action, emphasising the urgent need to address this issue.
Additionally, the nationalist opposition İYİ Party in Turkey has called for the cancellation of the Divine Liturgy at the Monastery of Panagia Soumela in Trabzon, sparking controversy and reflecting the increasing intolerance and nationalist and Islamic agenda in the country.
