A Nigerian national was hit with a 7,000TL (€234) fine on Wednesday after “attempting to spread Christianity” to the north.

Christian Layong Dogbima, who studies at one of the north’s universities, was arrested on Tuesday after giving an “unauthorised Bible lesson” in the basement of a block of flats on the outskirts of Famagusta.

In court on Wednesday, it was found that the lesson violated the north’s laws on religious education, which stipulates that all religious education must receive prior approval from the ‘education ministry’.

As a result, Dogbima was issued a fine and banned from leaving the north, now being required to report to a police station once a week to prove his presence.