PRESS STATEMENT 16 July 2019
Summary
The assets of Turk-Muslim foundation are being disposed as fire sale in Greece.
In conclusion, a 34 acres of land which is located in Kos Island has been sold to a tourism company in return for 181 thousand Euro with the approval of Administration of Foundation’s Assets of Kos. The decision of sale that was taken in January of 2019 was officially completed.
The foundation assets of Rhodes Turk-Muslims are also being disposed in the same way. The underlying truth of disposal of the assets of Foundations of Kos and Rhodes Turk-Muslim and abandonment of cultural monuments that belong to Turks to destruction of time is one of the applications, a part of assimilation, through breaking bond of the history of Turks.
Turks including foundations whom live in Rhodes and Kos at the present time are at the phase of losing their Turkish character apart from protection of their cultural identities. The fear is dominant in Turks of islands and they have been intimidated.
As association, we vigorously condemn sale of the assets of Kos Turk-Muslim Foundation and we demand that State of Greece must put an end to the assimilation policies which have been applied to Rhodes and Kos Turks.
Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kaymakçı
President
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The assets of Turk-Muslim foundation are being disposed as fire sale in Greece.
In conclusion, a 34 acres of land which is located in Kos Island has been sold to a tourism company in return for 181 thousand Euro with the approval of Administration of Foundation’s Assets of Kos. The decision of sale that was taken in January of 2019 was officially completed. In conjunction with this illegal sale, more than 70 lands which were in the possession of Kos Turk-Muslim Foundation were transferred and sold to municipalities for purpose of park, parking area and graveyard.
The foundation assets of Rhodes Turk-Muslims are also being disposed in the same way.
Turk-Muslim foundations in Greece, Kos and Rhodes are subjected to tax such as trade establishments. On the other hand, Orthodox Christian Church Foundations and Church are free of any kind of taxes. An inequality is observed here. This unfair application has converted to a mechanism to create an excuse for disposal of the assets of the foundation.
On the other side, Turk foundations in Greece are required to be managed in accordance with the international bilateral treaties. Within this context, “the Assets of Foundation cannot be sold, bought, shared as an inheritance” according to Regulation on Pious Foundations. In accordance with the treaty, all the transactions of sales and donation made until now are invalid pursuant to Regulation on Pious Foundations.
The underlying truth of disposal of the assets of Foundations of Kos and Rhodes Turk-Muslim and abandonment of cultural monuments that belong to Turks to destruction of time is one of the applications, a part of assimilation, through breaking bond of the history of Turks.
On the other hand, it is obvious that the protection of the assets of foundation is a problem related to freedom of religion and worship of Kos and Rhodes Muslim Turk community.
Use of freedom of religion and worship as community in islands is essential for the protection of foundation’s assets. For this reason, it is obvious that the liquidation procedures which are carried out by Boards of Management assigned by Greek Administrations are also a feature which restricts freedom of religion and worship.
As association, we vigorously condemn sale of the assets of Kos Turk-Muslim Foundation and we demand that State of Greece must put an end to the assimilation policies which have been applied to Rhodes and Kos Turks.
We bring this situation to the World and public attention of Turkey.
Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kaymakçı
President
