Lefkoniko municipality protests bazaar inside occupied village’s church

Lefkoniko municipality on Sunday expressed their disappointment over the organisation of a bazaar inside the renovated church of their occupied village.

In a written statement, the municipal council said the bazaar took place on Saturday inside the Archangelos Michael church.

This event, they said, “desecrated the sanctity of the place” and stirred “feelings of frustration, shame and indignation.”

The medieval religious heritage monument was renovated in 2017 by the bicommunal Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage with EU funds.

“We call on our government to strongly protest against the provocative violation of the purpose for which the church was restored,” the municipality said.

It added that the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage restored the church to save it from destruction, “but also so that we can perform our religious duties.”

The municipality argued that there are so many other places where bazaars can take place.

Archangelos Michael