Confiscation during the Turkish Republic Confiscation of Armenian properties in Turkey

an example of eviction notice dated 1 january 1950 of armenian woman issued internal revenue board , sent local cadastral directorate. such evictions assigned special investigative committees dealt solely properties of armenians.

following turkish war of independence , creation of republic of turkey in 1923, confiscation resumed armenians having been deported or killed. during republican era, legal terminology changed transported persons persons lost or fled country.

on 15 april 1923, before signing of treaty of lausanne, turkish government enacted law of abandoned properties confiscated properties of armenian not present on property, regardless of circumstances of reason. while local courts authorized appraise value of property , provide avenue property owners make claims, law prohibited use of power of attorney absent property holders, preventing them filing suit without returning country. in addition, defendant in case state of turkey had created specially tasked committees deal each case.

in addition law, turkish government continued revoking citizenship of many people law on 23 may 1927 stated ottoman subjects during war of independence took no part in national movement, kept out of turkey , did not return 24 july 1923 date of publication of law, have forfeited turkish nationality. additionally, further law passed on 28 may 1928 stipulated had lost citizenship expelled turkey, not allowed return, , property confiscated turkish government, , turkish migrants resettled in properties.

carpets of non-muslims unable pay tax hike being sold @ public auction during varlık vergisi. such items sold @ price lower actual worth in order avoid forced labor , possible death in labor camps in eastern turkey.

in preparation possible entry world war ii, turkish government introduced tax, varlık vergisi, disproportionately targeted turkey s non-muslim residents. many armenians, , other non-muslim populations, forced sell property @ reduced prices through public auctions in order pay sudden tax hike or have properties confiscated state. in addition, law allowed authorities confiscate property of relative of taxed person in order pay tax. tax, turkish government collected 314,900,000 liras or us$270 million (80% of state budget) confiscation of non-muslim assets.

this period coincided further confiscations of private property belonging armenians. special commissions created separate evictions of non-muslims others. investigators of commission expedited evacuation , eventual confiscation of non-muslim property in question.

the varlık vergisi followed istanbul pogrom few years later, organized mob attacked greeks , armenians on 6–7 september 1955. material damage considerable, damage 5317 properties (including 4214 homes, 1004 businesses, 73 churches, 2 monasteries, 1 synagogue, , 26 schools). estimates of economic cost of damage range turkish government s estimate of 69.5 million turkish lira (equivalent 24.8 million us$), british estimate of 100 million gbp (about 200 million us$), world council of churches estimate of 150 million us$, , greek government s estimate of 500 million us$. pogrom lead exodus of non-muslims out of country, resulting in significant amount of abandoned properties. property left behind fled confiscated turkish state after ten years.

in 1936, turkish government requested minority foundations provide list of owned assets , properties. above example of such declaration surp tateos partoghimeos armenian church , of hayganushyan school foundation. although twenty-one of properties belonging foundation formally listed in declaration, fourteen of them confiscated.

in 1960s, new laws passed, made impossible armenians establish new foundations nor buy or bequeath additional properties. 1 such law code (law no. 903) adopted in 1967, along second paragraph amended turkish civil code (no. 743) declared that, registration of foundations in violation of law, morality, tradition or national interests, or established support political belief, race or members of minority not approved. such laws considered legal experts violation of articles concerning minority rights found in treaty of laussane, turkish constitution, , article 11 of european convention on human rights, grants freedom establish foundations , hold meetings. new amendment , law code became basis new series of confiscations obstructed daily lives of armenians in turkey.

in 1974 new legislation passed stated non-muslim trusts not own more property had been registered under name in 1936. result, more 1,400 assets (included churches, schools, residential buildings, hospitals, summer camps, cemeteries, , orphanages) of istanbul armenian community since 1936 retrospectively classified illegal acquisitions , seized state. under legislation, turkish courts rendered turkish citizens of non-turkish descent foreigners , thereby placing them under same legal regulations of foreign company or property holder living outside of turkey not turkish national. provisions further provided foundations belonging non-muslims potential threat national security. process involved returning property acquired after 1936, whether through lottery, will, donation, or purchase, former owners or inheritors. if former owners had died leaving no inheritors, property transferred specified governmental agencies such treasury or directorate general of foundations.

on 11 june 1986, laws concerning abandoned properties during armenian genocide abrogated, ended 73 years of effectiveness. throughout republican period, laws continued provide legal basis confiscation of additional property belonged deportees. though laws abolished in 1986, general directorate of land registry , cadastre (turkish: tapu ve kadastro genel müdürlüğü) issued order on 29 june 2001 transferred leftover abandoned properties government. order forbid disclosure of information regarding title or documentation of properties. result, owners or heirs not make claims property since securely sanctioned under turkish law , had become property of state.

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