According to T/C media reports, Mr. Bender in a written statement said that in a case before the "committee" by a Greek applicant, the EBKAF, for the first time, participated in a case as an interested party.
"We view with appreciation this important and reasonable decision of the Property Committee, which recognized the interest of the EBKAF in this case and allowed us to be a party to the case. We consider this decision an important step in protecting our historic property rights."
In 2020, he added, the EBKAF applied to the "committee" to become a party to case number 1732/2011 on behalf of the Wakufi Abdullah Pasha, which is administered by the EBKAF. "But the e/c petitioner objected to the EBKAF being a party to the proceedings and a legal dispute arose. After hearing the arguments for and against, the TMK ("real estate committee") accepted the application, considering that the EBKAF had legitimate reasons to participate in this case."
Bender in his statement said that the EBKAF claims that it is the legal owner of 100% of Varosha and that when Cyprus was under British colonial rule (1878-1960), the EBKAF's assets were illegally transferred to individuals, institutions and organisations. According to the laws governing the EBKF and the international agreements to which the UK is a signatory, the assets of the Foundation cannot be sold or transferred."
Noting that the EBKF is a charitable foundation and one of the oldest in Cyprus, Mr. Bender said that it was established in 1571 by order of Sultan Selim I to administer donations from Muslims and operates for the benefit of all Cypriot citizens regardless of nationality, religion, language or gender.
Traditionally, he continued, Muslims in Cyprus leave their land or money as an inheritance to the EBAKF or a foundation and ask the EBAKF to administer it on their behalf. One of these foundations, he said, is the Abdullah Pasha Waqfiko.
According to Mr. Bender, with the income from property rents in the walled Varosha, the EBKAF pays salaries of local teachers, schools and children's school uniforms, health services, assistance to widows and orphans, dowry for poor young girls, maintenance and repair of mosques.
He also mentioned that the EBKAF, which has completed 450 years of life, manages more than 2200 institutions
Source: KYPE
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