In Cyprus, religions are hampering the peace process between the two parts of the island, separated for 50 years

The island has been divided since 1974 between its Greek part, recognized internationally, and its Turkish part in the north, which only Ankara recognizes. Reconciliation is not on the horizon, partly because of the weight of religions.

The island of Cyprus remains divided fifty years later… On July 15, 1974, a coup d’état by the junta of Greek colonels led to the military intervention of Turkey, which has since occupied the northern part of the island, a Turkish Republic of Cyprus North, which only Ankara recognizes. The south, Greek, has joined the European Union. This separation is undermining Cypriot civil society. Initiatives are multiplying to build bridges between the two communities across the border, but political quarrels and the weight of religions are hindering any peace process.

In his house in Nicosia, Anna Marangou works tirelessly for reconciliation between the two parts of the country. This archaeologist is particularly opposed to the Greek Orthodox Church in the south. “The weight of the church is enormous and unnatural. We are a secular country, but it must be said that the archbishops were all against the Federation. We cannot continue like this.hammers the archaeologist. We need a federation because the Turkish Cypriots must also have something of their own. They have the right to it. They have been here since the 16th century: generations have been raised since then… But it is difficult to get through when you hit the wall of the church, of education, of everything.“

Education and religion are areas of struggle and influence. In northern Cyprus, Selma Eylem, a teacher and trade unionist, is fighting against the actions of the Ankara regime. “In recent years with the arrival of the AKP (religious party supported by Turkey, editor’s note) In power, the education system in the north regresses and becomes more and more conservative. Koran courses are imposed, religious colleges are opened. This is a turning point and it is going faster and faster.notes the teacher. They want to do the same thing here that they did in Türkiye.”

What kind of society will this create? A racist, nationalist society, based on a single religion, a nation that obeys without question.

Selma Eylem, teacher and trade unionist in the Turkish part of the island

to franceinfo

A “buffer zone”patrolled by UN peacekeepers, has separated the two parts of the island of Cyprus since 1974. Every Wednesday, Imge gathers Greek and Turkish Cypriot children in this buffer zone. “Over time, by coming so often, they started playing during the breaks. That’s the goal of these rehearsals: to make them understand that in fact they are similarshe insists. They share the same culture. So it’s a great opportunity for a child to understand with his heart that we can live together. We’ve lived together before, so we can do it again in the future.”