Filenews 18 February 2024 - by Dora Christodoulou
In the district of Pafos there are 34 Turkish Cypriot mosques, of which 29 are entirely maintained by the Turkish Cypriot Property Management Branch of the Pafos District Administration, while the other five have been declared ancient monuments and are maintained by crews of the Department of Antiquities, with a 50% contribution from the Budget of the Turkish Cypriot Property Fund.
The branch also deals on a continuous basis with a large number of Turkish Cypriot cemeteries. There are a total of 51 such cemeteries in the province, which are maintained in matters of cleanliness and fencing, by the Turkish Cypriot Property Management Branch.
According to officials, Turkish Cypriot mosques in the Pafos district exist in many communities: Mandria, Kouklia, Tremithousa, Agia Varvara, Timi, Akoursos, Agios Nikolaos, Asprogia, Anadiou, Stavrokonnou, Agios Georgios, Souskiou, Kidasi, Melandra, Androlykou, Choulos, Lapithi, but also in smaller settlements, with little or no more permanent residents.
In the last 10 years, a total amount exceeding three million euros has been spent on the maintenance and repair of Turkish Cypriot mosques and Turkish Cypriot cemeteries.
In addition to the above amount, hundreds of thousands of euros have been given by the Department of Antiquities for the maintenance of mosques that have been declared ancient monuments. These are the mosques of Mouttalos, Timi, Chrysochous, Polis Chrysochous and Pelathousa.
According to the competent state departments, the Minister of Interior, as Guardian of Turkish Cypriot Properties, until the end of the unstable situation created by Turkey in Cyprus, ensures both the coverage of the needs of the Greek Cypriot displaced persons, the safeguarding of the rights of the Turkish Cypriot owners, as well as the protection and preservation of properties, including their cultural and religious heritage sites.
After the opening of the barricades, officials pointed out, there are many Turkish Cypriots who visit their places of worship, while in the free areas of all districts there is an imam and a number of mosques.
Regarding the issue of mosques on a pancyprian level, according to official data in the free areas there are a total of 109 mosques, of which 19 are classified as ancient monuments. For their maintenance and protection, an amount of 3.4 million euros has been spent over the last 10 years.
The Turkish Cypriot Property Fund, according to competent officials, is subsidized annually with a significant amount from the State Budget. The main projects carried out during the last ten years, regarding the Turkish Cypriot mosques and cemeteries in the district of Pafos, with the corresponding amounts of expenditure, are the following:
T/C mosques:
Breton Mosque amount €22.808 (radical repairs)
Hulu Mosque €20.000 (radical repairs)
Asprogia Mosque amount €18.000 (radical repairs)
Institute Mosque amount €22.690 (radical repairs)
Androlycus Mosque €30.000 (radical repairs)
St. John's Mosque €51.650 (mosque support projects)
T/C cemeteries
T/C cemetery on Akamantidos Street amount €26.000 (stone fencing)
T/C cemetery of Kouklia amount €53.000 (fencing with stone)
T/C cemetery of Geroskipou amount €19.000 (fencing with stone)
T/C cemetery of Androlykos amount €60.000 (fencing with stone)
T/C cemetery of Timi amount €57.575 (fencing with stone)
T/C cemetery of Souskious, amount €13.349 (fencing with telli)
T/C cemetery of Stavrokonnos amount €4.900 (fencing with telli)
