Cyprus-Forum.com

[Michael]

‘I was born here. This is where I want to live’
By Constantine Markides

ARIF Mustafa yesterday did something that he has not done in over three decades: he opened the front door to his house.

In a landmark court decision on Monday, Turkish Cypriot Mustafa won the right to move into his old home after the government withdrew its appeal against a September 2004 Supreme Court ruling that gave him the right to return.

The case is particularly sensitive because the Greek Cypriot refugee family living in Mustafa’s house had to be relocated. But the family, which initially opposed leaving the house, has consented to the move, apparently because the new residence satisfied them.

The surprise retraction of the appeal has prompted a wave of outcry, mostly from Greek Cypriot refugees who fear being displaced again without being able to return to their homes in the occupied north. Some of them gathered in protest outside the office of the Guardian of Turkish Cypriot properties, where Mustafa yesterday was handed the key to his house.

After opening his front door, Mustafa pushed open the blue shutters of his window. “After 32 years, it’s a great joy to be able to return to my property,” Mustafa told the Cyprus Mail, adding that the house had not changed.

The walls are chipped in the three-room house, with the underlying brick foundation exposed in places. Mustafa says that he will move into the house in a week or so after he has furnished the rooms and reinstated heating and electricity.

The back door opens to an orchard of olive and lemon trees. On the porch are a number of potted cacti and leafy plants. “It appears they didn’t want the plants,” Mustafa said. “But maybe they will come back for them.”

Mustafa said that his wife sold a portion of their land in Episkopi, but is still waiting for the contract to be finalised with the Interior Ministry. “When the money comes through we will build a house on the land for our daughter.”

Mustafa has been renting an apartment for three years in Limassol, during which time he has been embroiled in legal proceedings, a process he claims has cost him £60,000.
Mustafa did not believe that many other Turkish Cypriots, if any, would be returning to Episkopi, which was mostly Turkish Cypriot before the invasion.

“Many people don’t want to come. They have spent too many years living and raising their children in another place.”

He suggested that the government should conduct an investigation, perhaps by survey, to discover how many refugees would actually return to their property if given the opportunity and how many would prefer compensation.

“Why don’t they ask refugees where they want to live so we might have some idea as to how many would actually go?”
Only one Turkish Cypriot currently lives in Episkopi, a woman who remained after the 1974 invasion. But Mustafa said that he did not anticipate lonely days ahead as many of his Greek Cypriot friends whom he lived with pre-1974 were still in Episkopi.

Mustafa also refuted rumours that he planned to sell his house.

“I was born here. This is where I want to live.”

The disgrace of this is that Mr Mustafa was not forcibly removed from his property whereas the displaced Greeks were. You can feel the Cyprus Mail reporter c*****ing in his pants after the victory of our Turkish friend.

Copyright © Cyprus Mail 2005

[cypezokyli]

could you specify what do you find wrong with this article ?
dont see anything too exciting to be honest

[Michael]

Thought it was obvious. Unilaterally a turkish man is being given his property whist Greeks are denied theirs. That is what’s wrong.

[twinkle]

Shows we're civilised and their not. We respect the human rights of an individual and they don't.

Same goes with the churches and mosques. We look after the property of TC's whilst the property over "there" is being used for stables....nuff said!

[Michael]

Barbarians I know . Very difficult to keep turning the other cheek.

[Piratis]

Turkish Cypriots are also Cypriot citizens. The problem is that many of them decided to join the enemy and support the illegal occupation of Cyprus by Turkey. But this doesn't mean that all of them support these illegalities.

The ones that are law obeying Cyprus citizens should receive all the benefits (and responsibilities) that Cypriot citizens have.

Of course, all Cypriots have to share the weight of the illegal occupation. My family is not refugee but a lot of land was taken from us to house them and we keep paying taxes to support the refugees. Therefore the impression that some Turkish Cypriots have, that the only ones to pay the cost of the Turkish occupation should be the Greek Cypriot refugees, is also wrong.

All Cypriots will have to share this cost, and all Cypriots should fight against the illegal occupation which is the only way that everybody (GCs and TCs) will gain back what they legally own.

[bg_turk]

The TRNC is speeding up its preparation to set up a comission for the return of properties, and Talat has just today said that it will be ready by the 22 March.

There is no doubt that soon enough GC refugees will assume their rightful place in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

[twinkle]

There is no doubt that soon enough GC refugees will assume their rightful place in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

I don't think so. Wake up and smell the olives my friend.....

[Michael]

very feeble Mr Turk.

[cypezokyli]

Thought it was obvious. Unilaterally a turkish man is being given his property whist Greeks are denied theirs. That is what’s wrong.

unilaterally a turkish cypriot refugee, has received his house from the legal reupublic of cyprus. the house was his, and he has every right to that house, exactly the same way we argue, that our refugees have that right. if we deny that, then what kind of arguments do we have ?

besides, a country who has as its arguments the decisions of the ECHR, HAS NO CHOISE, to act otherwise.

believe me, if our court believed that they had a chance not to give arif his house they would have fought for it in the european court. but they knew, that such a chance doesnot exist