EMVALİ METRUKE

(LEFT [OVER] PROPERTIES)

ABANDONED PROPERTIES

WE HAVE THUS FAR PREPARED THE DOSSIER

FOR…

OR HAVE WE.???

POLITICAL DEMANDSDO THEY PRESENT ALL OUR DEMANDS???

ARMENIAN PROPERTIES WERE

ALL OVER THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE…

The most important Armenian effort regarding the Armenian confiscated Properties in the Ottoman Empire

Nevzat

OnaranA Turkish Human Rights advocate and journalist who has produced the only complete study of Laws pertaining to Armenian and Greek “Abandoned” properties to date…(1915-1988)

1. Law of 14 (27) May, 1915, known as the “Deportation Law”

2. Law of May 17 (30), 1915 known as the “Sheltering and Feeding of

Deportees” Law

3. Law of May 28 (June 9), 1915, known as the Law of Administering

of properties and lands belonging to Armenians

a) Temporary Law(???)

b) Armenians who were sent to other places because of extraordinary political

(WAR???) situations

c) Special Commissions established to keep written inventory, which are tied directly

to Ministry of Interior (Talat)(?)

d) “Abandoned” Properties(?)

e) Settle refugees on these abandoned properties(?)

f) Cadastre and Finance Ministries will be involved(?)

Addendum to Law of 14 May, 1915

Religious Institutions: Movable properties will be returned and not liquidated (Evkaf

Ministry gets involved)

Deportees can ask for official Tapus (Deeds) of properties

Armenian debts will be paid through the commissions(?)

To the Tasfiye Komisyons [Liquidation Commissions] of: Erzerum, Adana, Ankara, Bitlis Aleppo, Diyarbekir, Sivas, Trepizond, Maamuret Al Aziz, Konya, and Edirne Vilayets [Provinces]

and the Mutassarifates of: Urfa, Janik, Karesi, Kayseri [Caesarea], [Shabin] Karahisar, Eskishehir,

Nigde, Kutahya, Marash, and the areas of Tekfurdagh, Adana, Jebel Bereket, Kozan [Sis],

Yozgat, Ankara, Erzerum, Bitlis, Aleppo, Marash, Antakia, Hudavendigar, Gemlik, Bilejik,

Diyarbekir, Sivas, Marzifon, Tokat, Samson, Ordu, Trepizond, Konya, Maamuret Al Aziz, Izmit,

Adabazar, Eskishehir, Sivrihisar, Kayseri, Develi, Nigde, [Shabin] Karahisar, and Urfa.

It is ordered that special companies be formed for the [liquidation] of real and temporal Armenian properties left behind by the deportees in order to give their ownership to Muslims under the color of law. These companies must remain in effect and their boards must be elected from righteous and able citizens. Effort must be utilized so that the shares of these companies will not be priced over one Turkish Lira, and that the shares will not fall into the hands of foreign investors. We urge you to keep us informed of all details regarding these actions.

November 24, 1915

Minister of Interior

[Talat]

Signature

It is ordered that special companies be formed for the [liquidation] of real and temporal Armenian properties left behind by the deportees in order to give their ownership to Muslims under the color of law. These companies must remain in effect and their boards must be elected from righteous and able citizens. Effort must be utilized so that the shares of these companies will not be priced over one Turkish Lira, and that the shares will not fall into the hands of foreign investors. We urge you to keep us informed of all details regarding these actions.

November 24, 1915Minister of Interior

[Talat]Signature

INVALIDATING THE SEPTEMBER 13, 1915 PROPERTY LIQUIDATION LAW (Why?)

Article 2: The immovable properties mentioned in Article 1, which have been expropriated according to rules and regulations …will be returned and will be dealt with in accordance with these rules and regulations.

Article 4: …proving their identity by official documents and/or through notarized affidavits…

THE BEST EXAMPLE OF THE IMPLIMENTATION [OR LACK OF

ITS IMPLIMENTATION] HAPPENED IN…

BCA (Başbakanlik Cumhuriyyet Arşivi), 030.18.11/01.04.10

July 1, 1920 (June 18 11920) [18 Haziran 1336]

After reading the Letter of the Ministry of Interior dated June 4, 1920 and carrying the serial number 769, which made us aware that Armenian are being led group by group into Constantinople and other coastal cities and those capable amongst them are being armed by foreigners (Western Powers) and are thus oppressing Muslims, it is decided that their free movement and travel [within the country] is considered improper and is thus informed to the proper authorities for enforcement.

[Signatures of Cabinet Ministers]

Mustafa Kemal’s signature is circled

Article 1: Based on their escape and/or not being present, the movable properties of individuals in the districts that are liberated from the enemy are put under the jurisdiction of the government’s pertinent directorate and are sold in public auctions. As to the immovable properties and cultivated lands of such individuals, these too are surrendered to the same government directorate and the rents and sums collected from the sale of the product of the land are deposited in the money coffers (Mal Sandıkları) as trust deposits after being dully registered.

Article 1: Based on their escape and/or not being present, the movable properties of individuals in the districts that are liberated from the enemy are put under the jurisdiction of the government’s pertinent directorate and are sold in public auctions. As to the immovable properties and cultivated lands of such individuals, these too are surrendered to the same government directorate and the rents and sums collected from the sale of the product of the land are deposited in the money coffers (Mal Sandıkları) as trust deposits after being dully registered.

Article 5: This low is now in force regarding all those with movable or immovable properties who have escaped, or whose not being present is officially acknowledged.

•PARTIALLY ALTERCATES DEPORTATION LAW OF MAY 14 (27), 1915

•LIQUIDATION LAW OF SEPTEMBER 13 (26), 1915

•SELLING OF PROPERTIES IN THE LIBERATED AREAS, DATED APRIL 20, 1922

•cases involving lawsuits concerning such immovable properties, the ministries are held not responsible and property deed registration documents are not considered as not established (Gair-i Muteber).

•The deadlines are changed as follows: 4 months if they are within the boundaries of the [Ottoman] state and within a period of 6 months if they are outside the boundaries of the [Ottoman] state [foreign countries].

REGARDING ALTERATIONS IN SEVERAL PUBLISHED LAWS: LIQUIDATION LAW [REGARDING ABANDONED PROPERTIES] DATED SEPTEMBER 13 (26), 1915, LAW 333, DATED APRIL 15, 1923

Article 3: the immovable properties of people who are mentioned in Article 6 of the law dated April 15, 1923, are thus, and from that day on, transferred to the Coffers of the Ministry of Finance.

HOW MANY ALTERCATIONS… LOST COUNT ???

(Psss-You are not alone…)

The International Perspective

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GENOCIDE

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