The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Heiner Bielefeldt, visited Cyprus from 29 March to 5 April 2012. His fact-finding mission was the first ever to the island by an independent expert designated by the UN Human Rights Council. Mr. Bielefeldt's eight-day visit included meetings in connection with his mandate with various officials and individuals on the entire island as well as with representatives of religious or belief communities and civil society organizations. The Special Rapporteur’s mandate is to take stock of the situation on the ground in relation to the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of religion or belief and promote the adoption of related human rights measures.
In presenting preliminary findings of his eight-day mission, Bielefeldt noted that the situation between the island's minority Turkish-speaking south and its majority Greek-speaking north have improved somewhat, but restrictions on visiting of holy sites by each group in the territory of the other are still in place.
"Freedom of religion ... is a right, not an act of mercy," said Bielefeldt. As efforts at reunification of Cyprus have made little progress, some churches and cemeteries have been vandalized. Some Muslims express concern about lack of education and funding for maintenance of religious sites.
Bielefeldt criticized Cyprisian authorities for deporting asylum seekers — especially of the Baha’i faith — despite risks that they will be persecuted for their religious beliefs, and he urged Greek Cypriot education authorities to incorporate more information in the school curriculum about different religions and beliefs.
Credits to Don and Ellen Holsinger, Geneva, and to Menelaos Hadjicostis, Associated Press.
Report from the UN News Centre