Apostolos Andreas Monastery Mosque Controversy: Benter says "no complaint," Christophoros says "unaware"...

 In a statement to Bugün Kıbrıs, İbrahim Benter, the Director General of Evkaf, stated that there was no complaint from the church, while Bishop Christophoros, the Orthodox Bishop of Karpasia, said he was "unaware of the mosque."

During the restoration of the Apostolos Andreas Monastery, which belongs to the Orthodox Church in Dipkarpaz, the conversion of two rooms into a mosque has caused controversy and confusion among the public. İbrahim Benter, the Director General of Evkaf, spoke to Bugün Kıbrıs regarding the conversion of the rooms into a mosque and stated that "there was no complaint from the church." Benter mentioned that they had prepared the rooms and tried to move vendors there upon the request of the church, but politicians intervened, and they could not relocate people there.

Using the expression, "If the municipality requests it, we give it; otherwise, what business do I have to go to the tip of Karpasia and open a mosque?" Benter also stated that he constantly communicates with church officials, and they have not made any complaints to him. He continued his speech as follows: "What bothers us is if they build it close by. Of course, we cannot accept that. In the church, the management is in the hands of the priest. He has the key; he opens and closes it whenever he wants and stays there. However, Hala Sultan is affiliated with the Antiquities Department in the south. Every day, someone comes like a government agency, opens it at 9 am, and closes it at 5 pm. The management is not with us. We come and go as guests. We are not allowed to use the rooms next to the mosque either. The real freedom is in our hands."

CHRISTOPHOROS: "I AM UNAWARE OF THE MOSQUE BEING BUILT"

Bishop Christophoros, the Orthodox Bishop of Karpasia, made a statement opposing the decision, contrary to the statement of İbrahim Benter, the Director General of Evkaf, who said, "The church has no complaints," regarding the construction of a mosque at the Apostolos Andreas Monastery.

Bugün Kıbrıs newspaper had obtained the opinions of İbrahim Benter, the Director General of Evkaf, regarding the construction of a mosque in the two rooms of the Apostolos Andreas Monastery and received the response "The church has no complaints."
Speaking to the Cyprus News Agency (CNA), Archbishop Christophoros stated that he was not aware of the situation and expressed his objection to the decision.

"Just because a decision is announced does not mean it was consulted. Apparently, now they want to lay carpets in those rooms for Muslims who come to the monastery to worship. Just as we respect Hala Sultan Mosque in Larnaca, we expect the same. The nature of the Apostolos Andreas Monastery should not be changed. Both sides should respect the religious places that have helped us coexist for centuries in the way they have existed. I will visit the monastery at the beginning of the week," he said.