Different approaches for the protection of cultural heritage between the two countries
In the press release made by the ABTTF, it was stated that there are different approaches to the protection of cultural heritage between our country and our homeland.
ABTTF President Halit Habipoğlu said in a statement, “Our country should immediately abandon its rejectionist approach to Ottoman historical artifacts, which are a part of its cultural heritage, and protect them with care.” said.
The statement made by the ABTTF is as follows:
“According to the news of Millet newspaper, Xanthi Metropolitan Pandeleimon visited Gökçeada recently. He announced that he had undertaken the repairs of one of the 365 abandoned chapels on the island.
After the repair of the small church is completed, Pandeleimon will go to Gökçeada again for the opening ceremony.
Halit Habipoğlu, President of ABTTF, made the following statement on the subject: ‘
This latest development has clearly demonstrated once again the different approaches of our country, Greece, and our homeland, Turkey, regarding the protection of historical and cultural heritage.
While our homeland allows the renovation of even a small church belonging to the Greek Orthodox minority, most of the historical mosques in our country Greece cannot be restored, and most of them have been demolished.
All of the surviving mosques in Thessaloniki, where thousands of Muslims live, are closed to worship and are used as museums and exhibition halls.
It is a great shame for our country that the renovation of the historical Çelebi Sultan Mehmet (Beyazit) Mosque in Dimetoka, whose unique wooden roof was completely destroyed in the fire in March 2017, has not been finalized yet. Our country has consistently turned down our homeland's offers of assistance for the renovation of the six-century-old mosque, which is one of the most beautiful examples of our common cultural heritage. On the other hand, the original name of the Süleymaniye Madrasa on the island of Rhodes has been changed recently.
Our country, which plays an active role in the protection of cultural heritage in the world, should immediately abandon its rejecting approach to historical artifacts from the Ottoman Empire, which is a part of its cultural heritage, and should protect historical artifacts with care.”
