Nicosia, 22 February 2016 – The Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage and the United Nations Development Programme firmly condemn the arson attack during the night of 20th February against the Mosque of Deneia/Denya.

Deneia/Denya Mosque was one of the first heritage sites to be selected by the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage to benefit from emergency measures within the EU funded and UNDP implemented programme “Support to monuments of great importance for the communities of Cyprus – Phase 1”.

Representatives of the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage and UNDP immidately visited the Mosque on Sunday morning to assess the demages which are limited to the roof of the Mosque.

The UNDP remains ready to provide any necessary assistance for the restoration of the damaged roof and is already working in full coordination with the local authorities to ensure its future protection.

The Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage and the United Nations Development Programme stand united by all communities of Deneia/Denya and Cyprus and will continue in their efforts to safeguard Cyprus’ heritage.

More information on the conservation project carried out at Deneia/Denya Mosque can be found here: /sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/migration/cy/15170f77df2c43248c308ab753eed37acfc76089fbe74b787449b61df9877ec7.pdf

Contact information

For more information please contact UNDP-PFF at:

Mail: media.pff.cy@undp.org / Tel. +357 22874733+357 22874733 or +90 392 2200027+90 392 2200027, Twitter: @undp_pff.

This press release has originally been published on February 22, 2016.