LOS ANGELES - Jan 12, 2010

The American Hellenic Council joins hundreds of Greek-American and human rights organizations in condemning the most recent manifestation of suppression of religious freedoms in Cyprus with the goal to completely drive away the remaining Christian population from the occupied areas. The specific incident that took place was the violent interruption of Christmas Day services by armed security forces in several towns in the occupied areas of Cyprus.

Joining the Coordinated Effort of Hellenes and AHEPA, the AHC calls for the full US political establishment including the Administration and both chambers of Congress to condemn this latest attempt by the Turkish forces to deny basic human rights to its few remaining Christian residents.

There were approximately 182,000 Christian Cypriots living in the northern part of Cyprus in 1974. Following the invasion by Turkey and a prolonged illegal military occupation by a massive armed presence that systematically uses scare tactics, there are now only 343 Greece Cypriots and 112 Cypriot Maronites in the area.

We see this latest violation of religious freedom as a show of force by the Turkish occupying forces, taking place just five days after Turkey's public indication that Cyprus's Exclusive Economic Zone Agreement with Israel would injure a Cyprus settlement.

This is the latest clear violation of human rights on behalf of the illegitimate regime in northern Cyprus (see video of how that regime shelters international criminals) and the United States should clearly condemn it.

TAKE ACTION NOW: Click here to email your US Congressional Representative asking that Turkey should withdraw its occupying forces from Cyprus.