Land, Property of Muslim Trust (Vakuf) Appropriated by the Greek Government

Following the announcement of the Mufti (Muslim religious leader) of Komotini, the disputed 70 square meters of land is appropriated by the Greek Government. According to the 'Trakyanin Sesi' Turkish monthly in Thrace 70 sq meters of land announced as public property by the Greek Land Authority. Relevant announcement by the Mufti and the article by 'Trakyanin Sesi is below.

Original Greek Version of This Announcement

HELLENIC REPUBLIC

MUFTIA OF KOMOTINI

Prot. Num. 16/00/F. 29

Komotini, 26-04-2000

A N N O U N C E M E N T

The Mouftia of Komotini founds itself in the unpleasant position to denounce the Topographic Agency of Rodopi, that, by refusing to issue a certificate, DISPUTES THE OWNERSHIP of 70 strema [70,000 square meters] of cultivable fields in Mikro Kranovounio, which belong to the Vakif of Komitini since 1456.

Such actions are incompatible with the new climate that we attempt to create, step by step, in the relations between the State and the Minority.

We call upon the State authorities to take the necessary initiatives and solve the unacceptable for us problem that has been created.

Otherwise, the trust which the Minority begins to show towards the State will be irrevocably shaken.

The Prayer to the Sublime

The Mufti of Komotini

Meco Cemali

[Translated in English by Greek Helsinki Monitor]

Greek Helsinki Monitor

e-mail: office@greekhelsinki.gr

Balkan Human Rights Web Pages: http://www.greekhelsinki.gr

"Trakya'nin Sesi"  26/4/00 

Dostluk dedigin boyle olur... yunanistan-turkiye yakinlasmasi bati trakya musluman-turk azinligina da... yansidi.devlet arazileri mudurlugu Gumulcine Vakiflarina ait 70 donumluk araziyi...devlet arazisi ilan etti. Bati Trakya'nin Yunanistan'a ilhak edildigi gunden beri vakif arazisi olarak islenip kiralanan kucuk Sungurlu (mikro kranovunio)'daki 70 donumluk Gumulcine vakiflarina ait tarlayi ... devlet arazisi ilan etti .

Dostluk dedigin boyle olur !!!yakinlasma dedigin boyle olur !!! Rodop ilinde azinligin neredeyse %70'i Pasok ve onun milletvekillerine, valisine, belediye baskanlarina oy verdi ve veriyor.pasok partisi de... tesekkur olarak 70 donumluk vakif arazisine el koyuyor!!! Azinligin tek milletvekili Galip Galip'in olaya el koyup acil mudahalesini bekliyoruz.

"Trakyanin Sesi" 10/5/2000

Basin Bulteni

Aydin politikacilar tarafindan gerek, Turk-Yunan iliskilerini duzeltme yonunde, buyuk mucadelelerin verildigi su donemde, Azinligimizin kutsal vakiflarinda sorun yaratilmasi, bizlerde derin dusunce ve saskinlik yaratmistir.

Azinligimizin Vakif yonetimleri icin secim yapilmasi daimi istegi, simdi daha da zaruridir. Vakiflar idaresindeki bosluk, galiba bazi devlet yetkililerini, Gumulcine'nin Kucuk Sungurlu koyunde 70 Donum islenir Vakif arazisinin mulkiyetini inkara yöneltmistir.

Bu tur yersiz hareketler, Azinlik ile Devlet arasinda kurmaya calistigimiz olumlu ortama, olumsuz etki yapacaktir.

Gumulcine 2/5/00

Kasif Hasan,  Sirkeli Belediye Baskani

Sait Erdogan, Susurkoy Belediye Baskani

Mehmet Halit, Kozlu Kebir Belediye Baskani

Hasan Ekrem, Gumulcine buyuksehir Belediye baskan Yardimcisi