Tweet
NON-MUSLIM MINORITIES WILL RETRIEVE SEIZED PROPERTY
BIAnet.org
Aug 29, 2011
Turkey
Turkish government adopted a decree to return all immovable property
seized in 1936 to non-Muslim foundations. Compensations will be paid
for immovable property owned by third parties.
Istanbul - BÄ°A News Center29 August 2011, Monday On Saturday (27
August), the Official Gazette published a decree on the return of
immovable property of non-Muslim minorities. Thus, all confiscated
immovable properties, historic cemeteries and fountains will be
returned to non-Muslim minorities. Immovable property owned by third
persons will be paid for. The decree is an expansion of the law on
returning goods to minority foundations as enforced in 2008.
Radikal newspaper reported that the Ministry of Finance is going to
determine the compensation to be paid for immovable property owned by
third persons and the Treasury of the Foundations General Directorate
are going to pay the money.
The new regulation comes unexpected and within an unusual context:
It was issued in the scope of amendments of certain Decree Laws (KHK)
on the duties of the Food, Agriculture and Livestock Ministry.
According to the decree, "Immovable properties of non-Muslim
foundations registered in the 1936 Declaration with their 'owner'
section left empty, immovable properties in the 1936 Declaration
regulating minorities' properties for the first time during the Period
of the Republic and registered on the Treasury, the General Directorate
of Foundations, Municipalities and Special Provincial Administration,
except for reasons of sale or expropriation, and cemeteries and
fountains registered on public institutions, will be entitled to be
registered on the non-Muslim foundations upon application".
Amendments in 2003 and 2008 paved the way to the return of certain
properties of minority foundations that were subject to dispute.
However, no steps were being made towards immovable property owned
by third parties in particular.
The 1936 Declaration prohibited minority communities from acquiring
property. According to the new regulation, immovable property
registered in the "ownership" section of the 1936 Declaration that is
not owned by third persons will be returned to the minority communities
together with the related entry in the land register.
The foundations will have to apply to the Foundations Council within
twelve months to reclaim their property.
Among the property to be returned to minority foundations are about
50 cemeteries including the Å~^iÅ~_li Greek Cemetery and important
cemeteries in Yeniköy or Boyacıköy (districts on the European side
of Istanbul); the Galata School in Karaköy (Istanbul); important
areas of the Jewish community in Kandilli on the Asian banks of the
Bosporus; the Armenian Gulbenkyan Selamet Public House; immovable
property belonging to the Bakılkı Greek Hospital Foundatio
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
BIAnet.org
Aug 29, 2011
Turkey
Turkish government adopted a decree to return all immovable property
seized in 1936 to non-Muslim foundations. Compensations will be paid
for immovable property owned by third parties.
Istanbul - BÄ°A News Center29 August 2011, Monday On Saturday (27
August), the Official Gazette published a decree on the return of
immovable property of non-Muslim minorities. Thus, all confiscated
immovable properties, historic cemeteries and fountains will be
returned to non-Muslim minorities. Immovable property owned by third
persons will be paid for. The decree is an expansion of the law on
returning goods to minority foundations as enforced in 2008.
Radikal newspaper reported that the Ministry of Finance is going to
determine the compensation to be paid for immovable property owned by
third persons and the Treasury of the Foundations General Directorate
are going to pay the money.
The new regulation comes unexpected and within an unusual context:
It was issued in the scope of amendments of certain Decree Laws (KHK)
on the duties of the Food, Agriculture and Livestock Ministry.
According to the decree, "Immovable properties of non-Muslim
foundations registered in the 1936 Declaration with their 'owner'
section left empty, immovable properties in the 1936 Declaration
regulating minorities' properties for the first time during the Period
of the Republic and registered on the Treasury, the General Directorate
of Foundations, Municipalities and Special Provincial Administration,
except for reasons of sale or expropriation, and cemeteries and
fountains registered on public institutions, will be entitled to be
registered on the non-Muslim foundations upon application".
Amendments in 2003 and 2008 paved the way to the return of certain
properties of minority foundations that were subject to dispute.
However, no steps were being made towards immovable property owned
by third parties in particular.
The 1936 Declaration prohibited minority communities from acquiring
property. According to the new regulation, immovable property
registered in the "ownership" section of the 1936 Declaration that is
not owned by third persons will be returned to the minority communities
together with the related entry in the land register.
The foundations will have to apply to the Foundations Council within
twelve months to reclaim their property.
Among the property to be returned to minority foundations are about
50 cemeteries including the Å~^iÅ~_li Greek Cemetery and important
cemeteries in Yeniköy or Boyacıköy (districts on the European side
of Istanbul); the Galata School in Karaköy (Istanbul); important
areas of the Jewish community in Kandilli on the Asian banks of the
Bosporus; the Armenian Gulbenkyan Selamet Public House; immovable
property belonging to the Bakılkı Greek Hospital Foundatio
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress