Allocation of Religious Space in Cyprus
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Abstract
This paper evaluates the Republic of Cyprus’ legal framework and the society’s tolerance in regards to the allocation of religious space. What we argue is that with respect to the legal framework, the allocation of space for the building of places of worship is directly connected to the right of religious freedom, viewed as both a fundamental right and as an aspect of organisational religious freedom. Insofar as society’s tolerance is concerned, this paper examines five different cases of religious space allocation. The case studies clearly indicate that the allocation of religious space, including the erection of places of worship, provoke criticism and occasionally strong public reactions. It is found that the reaction by organised groups has been more intense in recent years with respect to the erection of places of worship of the majority religion. Concerning the places of worship of minority religions, there are sufficient indications that the most intense forms of intolerance do not occur between majority and minority groups, but rather between the minority groups themselves.
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Keywords
Cyprus, religion, religious tolerance, religious space, religious freedom, respect, Muslim, Orthodox, Jewish
References
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Edge, P. (2002) Legal Responses to Religious Difference. Hague: Kluwer.
Emilianides, A. (2005) ‘Islamic Faith as One of the Main Religions: The Case of Cyprus’ in Institute for State-Church Relations (ed.), Islam in Europe. Bratislava: Institute for State-Church Relations, pp. 220-228.
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Yesilada, B. (2009) ‘Islam and the Turkish Cypriots’, Social Compass, Vol. 56, No. 1, pp. 49-59.
Yourow, C. (1996) The Margin of Appreciation Doctrine in the Dynamics of European Human Rights Jurisprudence. Hague: Kluwer Law International.
Cyprus Human Development Report (2009) Youth in Cyprus: Aspirations, Lifestyle and Empowerment, Available at [http://hdr.undp.org/en/reports/nationalreports/europethecis/cyprus/cyprus_hd_2009_en.pdf], accessed on 11 May 2011.
Cyprus Mail (2009) ‘Clash at Omeriye Mosque’, 2 September 2009.
Cyprus News Agency (2005) Available at [http://www.hri.org/news/cyprus/kypegr/2005/05-09-13.kypegr.html], accessed on 11 May 2011.
Cyprus News Agency (2009) ‘Muslims clash at Omeriye Mosque’, 1 September 2009.
Cyprus News Agency (2010) 26 August 2010, available at [http://www.cna.org.cy/website/subject1.shtm#TZAMIA], accessed on 11 May 2011.
Dassetto, F., Ferrari, S. and Maréchal, B. (2007) Islam in the European Union: What’s at Stake in the Future. Brussels: European Parliament.
Demosthenous, D. (2000) The Occupied Churches of Cyprus. Nicosia: Monastery of Kykkos.
Dervitsiotis, A. (2010) The Building of a Temple as a Keystone of Religious Freedom. Athens: P. Sakkoulas [in Greek].
Edge, P. (2002) Legal Responses to Religious Difference. Hague: Kluwer.
Emilianides, A. (2005) ‘Islamic Faith as One of the Main Religions: The Case of Cyprus’ in Institute for State-Church Relations (ed.), Islam in Europe. Bratislava: Institute for State-Church Relations, pp. 220-228.
Emilianides, A. (2006) ‘The Constitutional Framework of the Relations between Church and State in the Republic of Cyprus’, Nomokanonika, Vol. 1. [in Greek].
Emilianides, A. (2009) ‘Turkish Cypriot Properties and the Guardian: A Critical Review of the Case-Law’, Cyprus and European Law Review, Vol. 9, pp. 457-501 [in Greek].
Emilianides, A. (2009) ‘The Legal Status of the Latin Community of Cyprus’ in Varnava, A., Coureas, N. and Elia, M. (eds.), Minorities of Cyprus. Cambridge: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, pp. 229-240.
Emilianides, A. (2010) ‘The Application of the Freedom of Religion Principles of the European Convention on Human Rights in Cyprus’ in Emilianides, A. (ed.), The Application of the Freedom of Religion Principles of the European Convention on Human Rights in the European Union. Leuven: Peeters,
pp. 89-98.
Emilianides, A. (2011) Law and Religion in Cyprus, Part II. Hague: Kluwer.
Hart, H.L.A. (1963) Law, Liberty and Morality. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Hitchcock, J. (1981) ‘Church, State and Moral Values: The Limits of American Pluralism’, Vol. 44, No. 2 (Spring), Law and Contemporary Problems at 3.
ISSP Surveys (1998) International Social Survey Programme Religion II. Available at [http.//www.esds.ac.uk/findingData/snDescription.asp?sn=4482], accessed on 11 May 2011.
Jones, T. (1996) ‘Property Rights, Planning Law and the European Convention’, European Human Rights Law Review, Vol. 3.
Low, S.M. and Lawrence-Zuniga, D. (2003) ‘Locating Culture’ in Low, S.M. and Lawrence-Zuniga, D. (eds.), The Anthropology of Space and Place. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing, pp. 1-47.
MacDonald, R. (1993) ‘The Margin of Appreciation’ in Macdonald, E., Matscher, F. and. Petzold, H. (eds.), The European System for the Protection of Human Rights. Dordrecht: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers.
Mack, E. (1988) ‘Liberalism, Neutrality and Rights’ in Pennock, R. and Chapman, W. (eds.), Nomos XXX: Religion, Morality and the Law, pp. 51-52.
Michael, M. (2007) ‘Jewish Hanukah and the Orthodox Reaction’, available at [http://www.romiossini.com/articles.php?lid=3950], accessed on 20 October 2010.
Michael, M. (2008) ‘Is Cyprus a Jewish Island?’, available at [http://www.romiossini.com/articles.php?lid=1629], accessed on 20 October 2010.
Papastathis, C. (1981) On the Administrative Organisation of the Church of Cyprus. Thessaloniki.
Reymond, B. (1995) ‘Architectural Patterns of the Relationship between States and Churches’ in Traer, R. (ed.), Religion and Human Rights in Europe. Oxford: IARF.
Phileleftheros (2009) 2 September 2009, available at [http://www.philenews.com/Digital/Default.aspx?d=20090902&pn=1], accessed on 11 May 2011.
Phileleftheros (2010) 15 March 2010, available at [http://www.philenews.com/Digital/Default.aspx?d=20100315&pn=1], accessed 11 May 2011.
Phileleftheros (2010) 7 July 2010, available at [http://www.philenews.com/Digital/Default.aspx?d=20100707&pn=1], accessed on 11 May 2011.
Phileleftheros (2010) 16 September 2010, available at [http://www.philenews.com/Digital/Default.aspx?d=20100916&pn=1], accessed 11 May 2011.
Rivers, J. (1994) ‘Irretrievable Breakdown? Disestablishment and the Church of England’, Cambridge Papers, Vol. 3, No. 4.
Shakolas, N. (2010) ‘The Erection of a Cathedral is Necessary’, available at [http://www.churchofcyprus.org.cy/article.php?articleID=1225], accessed on 20 October 2010 and the replies by Elefsis, available at [http://m4trix87.wordpress.com], accessed on 20 October 2010.
Simerini (2009) 3 September 2009, available at [http://www.sigmalive.com/simerini/news/188329], accessed on 11 May 2011.
Simerini (2010) 27 January 2010, available at [http://www.sigmalive.com/simerini/news/local/232991], accessed on 11 May 2011.
Simerini (2010) 6 June 2010, available at [http://www.sigmalive.com/simerini/news/social/273042], accessed on 11 May 2011.
Statistical Service of the Republic of Cyprus (2009) Demographic Report 2009. Nicosia: Printing Office of Republic of Cyprus.
Tomuschat, C. (1992) ‘Democratic Pluralism: The Right to Political Opposition’ in Rosas, A. and Helgesen, J. (eds.), The Strength of Diversity: Human Rights and Pluralist Democracy. Dordrecht: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, pp. 27-47.
Yesilada, B. (2009) ‘Islam and the Turkish Cypriots’, Social Compass, Vol. 56, No. 1, pp. 49-59.
Yourow, C. (1996) The Margin of Appreciation Doctrine in the Dynamics of European Human Rights Jurisprudence. Hague: Kluwer Law International.
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“Allocation of Religious Space in Cyprus”. 2018. Cyprus Review 23 (1): 97-121. https://cyprusreview.org/index.php/cr/article/view/169.