Although the event was recorded and uploaded on YouTube on April 7, the event actually occurred on March 20.
The Religious Leaders of Cyprus condemned the event and reiterated their request that all places of worship and cemeteries, in use or not, are protected against vandalism, misuse and desecration.
“Disrespecting places of worship and cemeteries creates pain, nurtures mistrust and becomes an obstacle to peaceful coexistence”, the statement says.
The US Embassy in Cyprus strongly condemned the misuse of the Armenian Monastery in Cyprus.
“Freedom of worship is a fundamental value, and we echo the call from religious leaders that all places of worship, in use or not, be protected against misuse, vandalism, and desecration,” Ambassador Judith Garber said in a Twitter post.
Turkish destruction in occupied northern Cyprus has a long history, with the Cypriot Foreign Ministry providing a detailed report on the destruction of churches and other acts of vandalism.