The planned group visit of our citizens to the Hala Sultan Tekke in Larnaca on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr has been blocked by the Greek Cypriot Administration (GCA), as reported to the TRNC Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the United Nations Peacekeeping Force (UNFICYP).

The application to visit the Hala Sultan Tekke on March 21, 2026, the second day of Eid, was rejected by the GCA, and the proposed date of March 22 was also deemed unsuitable. Finally, the request for March 28, 2026, was rejected once again at the last minute despite all efforts.

In previous years, this visit was carried out with 300 to 500 people (6-10 buses). This year, as a gesture of goodwill, it was planned with 105 people (2 buses); however, despite reducing the number of visitors to one bus due to the GCA's security concerns, permission was not granted.

In this context, the Cyprus Evkaf Administration and the Religious Affairs Directorate evaluate the numerous requests for religious visits from our citizens; these requests are forwarded to the TRNC Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and necessary diplomatic initiatives are undertaken to ensure the visits take place. However, despite this institutional and well-intentioned process, the blocking of the recent application for a visit to the Hala Sultan Tekke by the Greek Cypriot Administration is unacceptable.

The principles of freedom of belief, tolerance, and the protection of the right to worship, which are fundamental to the foundation culture, are clearly violated by such arbitrary practices.

On the other hand, within the framework of the respect and freedoms that our State shows to different religions, Greek Cypriots living in the Greek Cypriot Administration are provided with the opportunity to hold over 100 collective religious services in 80 different churches within our borders annually. These practices are a concrete demonstration of the importance our State attaches to freedom of religion and conscience.

Despite this, the exploitation of this well-intentioned approach by Greek Cypriot authorities and some religious figures; the use of political and racist rhetoric during services, unauthorized interventions, and the targeting of our country with false claims on international platforms are unacceptable.

The arbitrary rejection of an application made during one of the holiest times, such as Eid al-Fitr, is a clear violation of religious freedoms.

In this context, we strongly protest the refusal to permit the mass worship planned for March 28, 2026; we most strongly condemn this attitude aimed at obstructing the right of worship of the Turkish Cypriot people.

This approach by the Greek Cypriot leadership is a violation not only of religious freedoms but also of fundamental human rights.