Anastasiades condemns arson attack on Denia mosque

February 21st, 2016 Crime, Cyprus, Cyprus Talks 64 comments 2641

Anastasiades condemns arson attack on Denia mosque

Restored Denia mosque

President Nicos Anastasiades on Sunday said the government “condemns in the strongest terms” on what turned out to be an arson attack on the mosque in the village of Denia, outside Nicosia.

Fire services had earlier been investigating the cause of the Saturday afternoon blaze, which they said had damaged the wooden roof of the stone building to see whether it had been an arson attack.

“Such criminal acts, from wherever they come from and whatever the aim have only succeeded in causing problems to efforts to end the occupation and reunite our country,” Anastasiades said in a written statement.

The statement said the president had given instructions to the minister of justice and the chief of police to find the culprits asap. The interior ministry had been instructed to carry out repairs immediately, it added.

Built in the mid 19th century, the Denia mosque was restored three years ago under the auspices of the bi-communal Technical Committee for Cultural Heritage supported by EU funds with help from the UNDP.

At the time, Christakis Panayiotou, the head of Denia’s community council, said locals were delighted that the dilapidated mosque in their once mixed village had been restored. Many volunteered to build a pavement and plant flower beds around the place of worship, he said. Expressing his wish for reunification, Panayiotou said: “We don’t want to be at odds with the Turkish Cypriots. We want peace and friendship with them.”

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64 Comments

  1. cyberdog
    February 22, 2016 at 13:12

    Out of curiosity, what has led anyone to jump the conclusion that this has in any way been aimed at Turkey?

  2. ÆñÇßø
    February 22, 2016 at 11:37

    A very dumb move. The super patriots can’t wait for a resolution before attacking anything Turkish. They can’t wait to attack before lulling the TCs into a false sense of security to let down their guard. Their hate boils over.
    There are many, many like me that will never trust again. There are many, many like me that see the faces of the innocents that stare out from billboards in the villages of Murataga, sandalilar, Atlilar. We will never forget and will never forgive.
    Go on, bulldoze the mosque to the ground. We don’t need it.

    1. Limpori
      February 22, 2016 at 16:22

      well no, of course you dont need, you have thousands in the North – some of which have been converted from churches – a lot of respect there for cultural heritage of the island !

  3. BigApple
    February 21, 2016 at 22:24

    not nice and very disrespectful. At least we GCs recognize the wrong doing, as opposed to what happened to our churches and cemetaries in the North. May the first person without sin cast the first stone.

    1. schrodinger's cat
      February 21, 2016 at 22:59

      true dat

    2. license2observe55
      February 21, 2016 at 23:10

      Not all have received that message.

  4. oratis
    February 21, 2016 at 20:52

    this attack on the mosque send out the wrong message to our turkish speaking compatriots.
    it further enhances the arguments of Turkish Cypriots wanting Turkish guarantees, it sends the message that there are still greek cypriots who want to destroy them, it instills fear.
    the president is right to condemn this attack in strong words.

    1. disqus_free_speech
      February 21, 2016 at 21:22

      How do you know it was done by a Greek?

      1. oratis
        February 22, 2016 at 01:52

        I dont know that, but thats what a lot of turkish cypriots will think and thus the effects on the opinions of Turkish cypriots of this attack which I explained in my previous comment.
        I don’t rule anything out even the possibility that it may even be Turks trying to cause a negative climate on the other hand it could be elam, without proof though no particular group of people can be blamed.

  5. John Aziz Kent Kent
    February 21, 2016 at 20:28

    The Presıdent ıs a man for peace hopefully he wıll fınd the guılty ones WHO
    Trıed to burn the mosque ıt ıs obvıos they are 50 years behınd tımes the ones that dıd ıt especıally when so many aspects are workıng agaınst a solutıon
    Based on TRUTH and equalıty for a change on both communıtıesbenefıts

  6. Muffin the Mule
    February 21, 2016 at 17:57

    Lunatics are being let lose…anything to derail a solution

  7. David Grimmett
    February 21, 2016 at 17:47

    Another wound in any possible healing of the wounds between the two sides. A pity, when it could all be so civilised.

  8. Kuzka's Mother
    February 21, 2016 at 16:26

    Some ELAM-linked idiot, no doubt.

    1. disqus_free_speech
      February 21, 2016 at 18:58

      Cheap shot at a pretty soft target, where history tells us that it’s Turks that do these types of crimes.
      youtubedotcom/watch?v=Y1tUGnWqw2M
      youtubedotcom/watch?v=psSDyrXJw5o

      1. Banter
        February 21, 2016 at 19:55

        Can’t help yourself can you. Another unnecessary cheap shot at Turkey who has nothing to do with this article.

        1. disqus_free_speech
          February 21, 2016 at 21:10

          Are you Turkish?

      2. Kuzka's Mother
        February 22, 2016 at 18:29

        Yes, I am sure there’s a long history of Turks vandalizing their own mosques. Thanks for pointing it out.

  9. Leprof
    February 21, 2016 at 15:52

    burn the churches too…. religion is for idiots

    1. Adele
      February 21, 2016 at 16:44

      Imagine “John Lennon” great words.

      1. Survivor
        February 21, 2016 at 19:51

        That song says it all for mankind ! Very nice song too .

        1. license2observe55
          February 21, 2016 at 23:02

          Actually, some have called it a kind of ode to communism.

          1. Adele
            February 22, 2016 at 00:08

            I must confess I had to google that “interesting”.

          2. Survivor
            February 22, 2016 at 01:02

            Those ‘Some’ are probably communists !…………… ” Lennon: It’s not a new message: “Give Peace a Chance” — we’re not being unreasonable. Just saying “give it a chance.” With “Imagine” we’re asking, “can you imagine a world without countries or religions?”

          3. Puppy master
            February 22, 2016 at 08:58

            Only those who misspelt his surname 😉

  10. Neroli
    February 21, 2016 at 15:50

    Pathetic!

  11. Cydee
    February 21, 2016 at 15:49

    Someone trying to cause trouble.

  12. Slomi
    February 21, 2016 at 15:00

    A sad incident.

    1. Banter
      February 21, 2016 at 19:58

      Actually Some it’s more than sad. It’s a big worry!

      1. Slomi
        February 21, 2016 at 20:23

        Indeed.One can see a lot coming up.

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