Today, the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) facilitated a significant religious visit to the Hala Sultan Tekke in Larnaca, enabling members of the community to worship freely at one of the Islamic world’s holiest shrines. This visit underscores UNFICYP’s ongoing commitment to fostering intercommunal trust and ensuring the right to religious expression across the island.
Located on the shores of the Larnaca Salt Lake, Hala Sultan Tekke holds immense religious and cultural significance, revered as a symbol of shared heritage on the island.
“Facilitating access to religious sites is a vital part of our work to build trust and foster community relations,” said Munehiko Harada, UNFICYP Civil Affairs Officer. “It’s about creating the space for people from both communities to connect with their heritage and with each other. When we coordinate a service or help organize a visit such as today to Hala Sultan Tekke, we are doing more than just facilitating crossing; we are helping to bridge a divide that has kept communities apart for decades.”
This act of facilitation is a collaborative effort, integrating civilian, military, and police components of UNFICYP. While the Civil Affairs Section handles the logistical coordination of the crossing, UNPOL officers are on the ground to guarantee the security and safety of all participants.
“From a policing perspective, our role is to ensure these religious events happen safely and without incident,” stated Acting Senior Police Advisor, Paul Slattery. “Coordinating with local police services and navigating the logistics of the crossing points is crucial. We focus on the practical, security-related aspects, from managing access at the crossings to ensuring a smooth transition through the crossing point, so that worshippers can focus on their faith, not on the complexities of the buffer zone. Security and stability are the necessary conditions for these acts of worship to take place.”
The visit to Hala Sultan Tekke is a powerful example of how the practical coordination of religious freedom can act as a cornerstone for peace. By allowing both communities to connect with their heritage safely, UNFICYP continues to play a crucial role in creating the conditions necessary for a more unified future on the island.
