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.”
64 Comments
KPierides
February 23, 2016 at 14:52RT @Cypriot_Puzzle: [email protected] condemns arson attack on Denia mosque https://t.co/dWV686XooF #Cyprus #CyProb
locationcyprus
February 22, 2016 at 13:22#Cyprus #locationcyprus: Anastasiades condemns arson attack on Denia mosque – President Nicos Anastasiades on… https://t.co/11pxOQNezL
cyberdog
February 22, 2016 at 13:12Out of curiosity, what has led anyone to jump the conclusion that this has in any way been aimed at Turkey?
MundaBadmaash
February 22, 2016 at 10:40RT @cyprusmail: Anastasiades “condemns in the strongest terms” the arson attack on the mosque in the village of Denia near Nicosia: https:/…
ÆñÇßø
February 22, 2016 at 11:37A 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.
Limpori
February 22, 2016 at 16:22well 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 !
sauterne
February 22, 2016 at 09:41RT @conflictantiq: local Greek Cypriots supported restoration of Deneia/Denya’s mosque; ultras committed arson https://t.co/22u7tgqxus http…
ARCA_artcrime
February 22, 2016 at 09:41RT @conflictantiq: local Greek Cypriots supported restoration of Deneia/Denya’s mosque; ultras committed arson https://t.co/22u7tgqxus http…
AinYemen1
February 22, 2016 at 09:39RT @conflictantiq: local Greek Cypriots supported restoration of Deneia/Denya’s mosque; ultras committed arson https://t.co/22u7tgqxus http…
UllaWarberg
February 22, 2016 at 08:57RT @conflictantiq: local Greek Cypriots supported restoration of Deneia/Denya’s mosque; ultras committed arson https://t.co/22u7tgqxus http…
BigApple
February 21, 2016 at 22:24not 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.
schrodinger's cat
February 21, 2016 at 22:59true dat
license2observe55
February 21, 2016 at 23:10Not all have received that message.
oratis
February 21, 2016 at 20:52this 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.
disqus_free_speech
February 21, 2016 at 21:22How do you know it was done by a Greek?
oratis
February 22, 2016 at 01:52I 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.
John Aziz Kent Kent
February 21, 2016 at 20:28The 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
Muffin the Mule
February 21, 2016 at 17:57Lunatics are being let lose…anything to derail a solution
David Grimmett
February 21, 2016 at 17:47Another wound in any possible healing of the wounds between the two sides. A pity, when it could all be so civilised.
katarina19623
February 21, 2016 at 16:27RT @eevriviades: Prez @AnastasiadesCY “condemns in the strongest terms” arson attack on the mosque in the village of Denia #Cyprus https://…
CIFSACyprus
February 21, 2016 at 15:49RT @cyprusmail: Anastasiades “condemns in the strongest terms” the arson attack on the mosque in the village of Denia near Nicosia: https:/…
DioPerix
February 21, 2016 at 15:45Republic of #Cyprus – – @AnastasiadesCY condemns arson attack on Denia #Mosque – Cyprus Mail – https://t.co/tvBQE3IALO
simmimi_1
February 21, 2016 at 15:40RT @eevriviades: Prez @AnastasiadesCY “condemns in the strongest terms” arson attack on the mosque in the village of Denia #Cyprus https://…
Ziya_Meral
February 21, 2016 at 15:39RT @eevriviades: Prez @AnastasiadesCY “condemns in the strongest terms” arson attack on the mosque in the village of Denia #Cyprus https://…
eevriviades
February 21, 2016 at 15:38Prez @AnastasiadesCY “condemns in the strongest terms” arson attack on the mosque in the village of Denia #Cyprus https://t.co/FdolDduXCW
cyprusbiz
February 21, 2016 at 15:36RT @cyprusmail: Anastasiades “condemns in the strongest terms” the arson attack on the mosque in the village of Denia near Nicosia: https:/…
cyprusmail
February 21, 2016 at 15:34Anastasiades “condemns in the strongest terms” the arson attack on the mosque in the village of Denia near Nicosia: https://t.co/bIrZrlXmPC
CostaBlancaInfo
February 21, 2016 at 15:30Anastasiades condemns arson attack on Denia mosque – Cyprus Mail
https://t.co/ruZpzeirPE
Kuzka's Mother
February 21, 2016 at 16:26Some ELAM-linked idiot, no doubt.
disqus_free_speech
February 21, 2016 at 18:58Cheap 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
Banter
February 21, 2016 at 19:55Can’t help yourself can you. Another unnecessary cheap shot at Turkey who has nothing to do with this article.
disqus_free_speech
February 21, 2016 at 21:10Are you Turkish?
Kuzka's Mother
February 22, 2016 at 18:29Yes, I am sure there’s a long history of Turks vandalizing their own mosques. Thanks for pointing it out.
Leprof
February 21, 2016 at 15:52burn the churches too…. religion is for idiots
Adele
February 21, 2016 at 16:44Imagine “John Lennon” great words.
Survivor
February 21, 2016 at 19:51That song says it all for mankind ! Very nice song too .
license2observe55
February 21, 2016 at 23:02Actually, some have called it a kind of ode to communism.
Adele
February 22, 2016 at 00:08I must confess I had to google that “interesting”.
Survivor
February 22, 2016 at 01:02Those ‘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?”
Puppy master
February 22, 2016 at 08:58Only those who misspelt his surname 😉
Neroli
February 21, 2016 at 15:50Pathetic!
Cydee
February 21, 2016 at 15:49Someone trying to cause trouble.
goatsheadsoup59
February 21, 2016 at 14:17RT @Cypriot_Puzzle: [email protected] condemns arson attack on Denia mosque https://t.co/dWV686XooF #Cyprus #CyProb
Cypriot_Puzzle
February 21, 2016 at 14:08[email protected] condemns arson attack on Denia mosque https://t.co/dWV686XooF #Cyprus #CyProb
Slomi
February 21, 2016 at 15:00A sad incident.
Banter
February 21, 2016 at 19:58Actually Some it’s more than sad. It’s a big worry!
Slomi
February 21, 2016 at 20:23Indeed.One can see a lot coming up.