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A new example of disrespect to Ottoman-Turkish monuments from the authorities of our country

04.11.2022

ABTTF President: “Our country’s authorities are continuing their reckless and disrespectful attitude towards the historical monuments inherited from the Ottoman Empire by converting the historical Murat Reis Complex on Rhodes Island into a music faculty. Our country should take the practices of our motherland as an example in protecting the historical and cultural heritage within its borders’’.

The historical Murat Reis Complex on Rhodes Island, which includes a mosque, a tekke, a martyrdom and the tomb of Murat Pasha, who conquered Cyprus, was converted into a music faculty by the Greek authorities.

“Our country’s authorities are continuing their reckless and disrespectful attitude towards the historical monuments inherited from the Ottomans in our country by transforming the Murat Reis Complex on Rhodes Island, which was primarily a martyrdom and served as a spiritual centre for the Turks living on the island, into a music faculty. For years, many historical artefacts from the Ottoman period and belonging to Turkish foundations have been bought and sold on Rhodes Island, their original names have been changed and used for different purposes, as in the case of the Süleymaniye Madrasah. Likewise, a similar situation is experienced on Kos Island and in Thessaloniki, where thousands of Muslims live, all the mosques inherited from the Ottoman Empire are closed to worship and used as museums and exhibition hall areas. On the other hand, even the historical churches in places where there is no community in our motherland are being restored and opened for worship. These two contradictory situations clearly reveal the different approaches and practices of our country and motherland in protecting the historical and cultural heritage and our country should take our motherland as an example in this regard’’, said Halit Habip Oğlu, President of the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF).

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