Although missionaries have the legal right to proselytize in both communities, missionary activities are monitored closely by the Greek Cypriot Orthodox Church and by both Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot authorities. The Orthodox Church is suspicious of any attempts to proselytize among Greek Cypriots. On occasion the Greek Cypriot media has given extensive coverage to the activities of foreign missionaries, creating a chilling effect on those activities. There are occasional apprehensions under these laws resulting in publicity but no arrests. The Greek Orthodox religion is taught in all public primary and secondary schools in classes held twice per week in the government-controlled area.
Parents can request that their children be excused from such instruction.
There is instruction in religion, ethics, and comparative religions in two grades of the primary school system in the Turkish Cypriot community. There is no formal Islamic religious instruction in public schools and no state-supported religious schools. There is no government-sponsored interfaith activity. There is no interfaith activity sponsored by the Turkish Cypriot authorities. Both the Government of Cyprus and the Turkish Cypriot administration have constitutional or legal bars against discrimination.