MP Tuma Celik raises housing problem of minorities in Turkish parliament

ANKARA – Syriac Member of Turkish Parliament for Mardin Tuma Çelik has raised the issues Syriac, Greek, and Armenian citizens face when buying residential property and placed it on the agenda of the Grand National Assembly. MP Tuma Çelik has asked Environment and Urbanization Minister Murat Kurum for answers to his questions and asked whether there is special legislation around the sale of property to Syriacs, Greeks and Armenians, reports Gazete Sabro.

In his address, Çelik points to contradictions. On the one hand, increasing exchange rates make it easier for non-Turkish citizens to buy houses, and non-Turkish citizens have no obstacle to own house in Turkey. Moreover, house sales have increased 38 percent in the last year. On the other hand, Syriacs, Greeks, and Armenians, seem to find themselves in a squeeze preventing them from resettling in their native country after emigration and obtaining foreign citizenship.

“According to the information we have obtained, Syriacs, Greeks and Armenians who do not hold Turkish citizenship cannot buy land or residential property in the provinces of Mardin, Kilis, and Hatay. The common feature of these three provinces is the high rate of emigration among the population. These people have in recent years, and for various reasons, acquired sole citizenship of the countries to which they have emigrated. This situation prevents them from resettling in their native country,” Çelik stated.

The full set of questions asked by Independent MP Tuma Çelik to Minister Murat Kurum:

• How many houses have been sold to non-Turkish citizens in the last year?
• What is the geographical distribution of the houses sold in the last year by province?
• How many residences or other kind of property were sold to non-Turkish citizens in Hatay, Kilis and Mardin?
• Is it true that non-Turkish citizens cannot buy land or residential property in Hatay, Kilis and Mardin?
• Is there a special legislation for Syriacs, Greeks or Armenians regarding the acquisition of houses or land in Hatay, Church and Mardin?
• Is there a special legislation for Syriacs, Greeks or Armenians regarding the acquisition of houses or land throughout Turkey?