The island is divided into a Greek area and a Turkish area. Virtually all of the Greeks and most of the other non-Turkish ethnic groups live in the Greek area in the southern part of the island and virtually all of the Turks live in the Turkish area in the north. Cyprus has been a hot spot of international concern because of conflict between the two primary ethnic groups and the conflicting interests of the governments of Greece and Turkey. Greeks belong to the Greek Orthodox Church and Turks follow the Islamic faith. The remaining four percent of the population belong to the Marionite, Armenian Apostolic or other churches.
The 1960 constitution of Cyprus defines and divides the citizens of Cyprus into two communities, Greek and Turkish, based upon their language, cultural traditions and religion. A married woman belongs to the community of her husband. Minors belong to the community of the father, unless, paternity being unknown, the minor belongs to the community of the mother. The constitution states that every person has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. All religions, whose doctrines are not secret, are free.
In spite of the tension between the two communities, Turks living in the Greek part of the island are permitted to practice Islam and vice versa. According to the 1996 US State Department Report on Human Rights, missionaries have the legal right to proselytize in both communities, but their activities are closely monitored by the Greek Orthodox Church and the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot authorities. In the past, the right of Greeks in the north to visit Apostolos Andreas monastery was denied, but restrictions have been eased and they are able to visit every Sunday and on religious holidays.
2003 US State Department International Religious Freedom Report on Cyprus
1998 Alleanza Catolica Religious Freedom in the Majority Islamic Countries Report on Cyprus
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