GREEK CYPRIOT PLUNDERING OF THE TURKISH CYPRIOT PROPERTIES

Properties of the Turkish Cypriots in South Cyprus have been sold through illegal ways, without the knowledge of their owners. Despite the existence of the law passed in 1999 that prohibits property sell “from a Turkish Cypriot to a Greek Cypriot and from a Greek Cypriot to a Turkish Cypriot”, the Greek Cypriots are continuing to plunder the Turkish Cypriot properties.

Properties of the Turkish Cypriots in South Cyprus have been sold without the knowledge of their owners either through illegal ways or by trying to adjust the selling to the laws.

According to the Turkish daily “Kıbrıs”, share of a land, which is at the seafront, belonging to 77 years-old Lutfiye Mehmet Torun, who is currently living in Yeni Bogazici and was used to live in the village of Aytotoro of Larnaca district before 1974, was sold by the Greek Register Office with a public auction without informing her.

Lawyer Ibrahim Ozgur who was consulted for his opinion about the issue described the situation as “illegality, which was tried to be adjusted to the law” and added, “the aim is to deplete the Turkish properties”.

 

TURKISH CULTURAL HERITAGE HAS BEEN DESTROYED IN SOUTH CYPRUS

Efforts of the Greek Cypriot Administration towards making people to forget the Turkish cultural heritage in South Cyprus are continuing.

With a study carried out at the Presidency, damaged cultural heritage of the Turkish Cypriots in South Cyprus was revealed.

According to this study, 16 mosques out of 106 was destroyed and 61 of them are neglected and in a bad condition. It was found out that 31 mosques in the living areas of Paphos were considerably ruined and necessary studies should be carried out for their survival.

According to the study, the condition of Turkish Cypriot cemeteries in South Cyprus was also bad. Almost none of the cemeteries in South Cyprus were in their place and even their places could not be identified. Majority of those cemeteries, which were identified, were damaged. Many mosques were destroyed either from dilapidation or conscious damage.

Majority of places, which were damaged or destroyed, were the cemeteries belonging to the Turkish Cypriot cemeteries. While part of these cemeteries was converted to agricultural land, roads were consciously constructed on some cemeteries.