Parliamentary question - E-000565/2013Parliamentary question
E-000565/2013

Destruction of the Greek Cypriot cemetery and church in occupied Lapythos village (Cyprus)

Question for written answer E-000565-13
to the Commission
Rule 117
Antigoni Papadopoulou (S&D)

According to an article published in the Turkish Cypriot daily newspaper Kibrisli on 18 January 2013, the Greek Cypriot cemetery in the occupied village of Lapythos (Cyprus) has been destroyed as a result of action initiated by the so-called mayor of occupied Lapythos, Fuat Namsoy, who is also the General Secretary of the Turkish Cypriot National Unity Party (UBP). Diggers and bulldozers destroyed the cemetery and the church located inside it, and the headstones of the Greek Cypriot graves were broken and thrown into the destroyed church. The bones which had been taken out of the cemetery were thrown away as rubbish. In the Greek Orthodox tradition, such actions against cemeteries and lack of respect for the dead are considered a severe violation of religious human rights.

The Commission is therefore asked to answer the following:

OJ C 347 E, 28/11/2013