CEMAAT (COMMUNITY) FOUNDATIONS

Community foundations are charitable organizations established by Non -Muslim Turkish citizens before the founding of the Republic.

Their registration and recording in the ledger of the Directorate General of Foundations was realized in 1936.

Therefore these charitable institutions belonging to communities are accepted as "foundations".

Establishment of a foundation to support a certain community is not possible as per the Turkish Civil Code.

Therefore establishment of a new community foundation is legally imposible.

As per Article 3 of Foundations Law number 5737; community foundations are defined as foundations which have a legal entity as per Foundations Law number 2762 and which belong to Non-Muslim communities in Turkiye whose members are citizens of the Republic of Turkiye regardless of whether they have a foundation certificate charter or not.

These foundations are special legal entities as per Article 4 of the same law separately and they are conducted by Foundations Council elected by their members. Selections for the Foundations Council are performed by members themselves as per relevant provisions of the Foundations Law.

Community foundations may acquire real estate based on the decisions of the Foundations Council and have the right to disposed of their real estates (right to lease real estate, right of usufruct, right of construction, etc.)

Real estate or rights acquired later by community foundations may be replaced with more useful real estate or rights or may be converted into money based on the decision of the authorized body of foundation other than real estate and rights acquired initially.

Real estates that belong to community foundations and which are not used as charities in a charitable fashion way in whole or in part be allocated to another foundation belonging to the same community or converted into real estate of foundation based on the decision of the Foundations Council upon request of management of foundation.

These foundations are supervised by Directorate General of Foundations like other foundations in Turkiye. The 167 community foundations in activity are as follows:

 COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS BEING IN ACTIVITY

     NO:       Name of Foundation:

 

         1.       The Foundation of Beykoz Aya Paraşkevi Rum Orthodox Church

         2.       The Foundation of Büyükada Panayia Aya Dimitri Profiti İlya Rum Orthodox Church and School

         3.       The Foundation of Heybeliada Aya Triada Tepe Monastery

         4.       The Foundation of The foundation of Halki Seminary Aya Nikola Rum Orthodox

         5.       The Foundation of Rum Halki Seminary of Heybeliada

         6.       The Foundation of Kınalıada Panayia Rum Orthodox Church

         7.       Burgazada Aya Yorgi Karipi Monastery

         8.       The Foundation of Burgazada Aya Yani Rum Orthodox Church  and School

         9.       The Foundation of Fener Maraşlı Rum Primary School

       10.       The Foundation of Fener Yoakimion Rum Girls' High School

       11.       The Foundation of Fener Rum Boys' High School

       12.       The Foundation of Feriköy 12.Apostol Rum Orthodox Church  and School

       13.       The Foundation of Fener Tekfursaray Panayia Hançerli Rum Orthodox Church 

       14.       The Foundation of Fener Vlahsaray Panayia Rum Orthodox Church 

       15.       The Foundation of Fener Meryemana Rum Ortodoks (Kanlı) Church

       16.       The Foundation of Kurtuluş Aya Tanaş Aya Dimitri Aya Lefter Rum Orthodox Church  and School

       17.       The Foundation of Beyoğlu Rum Orthodox Churches and Schools

       18.       The Foundation of Beşiktaş Cihannüma Rum Orthodox Church 

       19.       The Foundation of Beşiktaş Panayia Rum Orthodox Church 

       20.       The Foundation of Yenimahalle Aya Yani Rum Orthodox Church 

       21.       The Foundation of Bebek Aya Haralambos Rum Orthodox Church

       22.       The Foundation of Çengelköy Aya Yorgi Rum Orthodox Church 

       23.       The Foundation of Fatih Eğrikapı Panayia Rum Orthodox Church 

       24.       Aksaray Langa Aya Todori Rum Orthodox Church

       25.       The Foundation of Independent Turkis Orthodoxs Churches and Patriarchate

       26.       The Foundation of Ayvansaray Aya Dimitri, Aya Vlaharne Rum Orthodox Church  and School

       27.       The Foundation of Üsküdar Profiti İlya Rum Orthodox Church  and School

       28.       The Foundation of Arnavutköy Aya Strati Taksiarhi Rum Orthodox Church 

       29.       The Foundation of Yeşilköy Aya İstepanos Rum Orthodox Church

       30.       The Foundation of Altı Mermer Panayia Rum Orthodox Church 

       31.       The Foundation of Cibali Aya Nikola Rum Orthodox Church 

       32.       Kuzguncuk Aya Pandeliimon Rum Orthodox Church

       33.       The Foundation of Kumkapı Aya Kiryaki Elpida Rum Orthodox Churches

       34.       The Foundation of Balat Aya Strati Rum Orthodox Church 

       35.       The Foundation of Balat Panayia Balino Rum Orthodox Church 

       36.       The Foundation of Zapion Rum Girls' High School

       37.       The Foundation of Sarmaşık Aya Dimitri Rum Orthodox Church 

       38.       The Foundation of Topkapı Aya Nikola Rum Orthodox Church 

       39.       Hasköy Aya Paraşkevi Rum Orthodox Church 

       40.       The Foundation of Salmatomruk Panayia Rum Orthodox Churches

       41.       The Foundation of Yeniköy Aya Yorgi Church and Monastery Affiliated Kuddusü Şerif Rum Patriarchate

       42.       The Foundation of Galata Rum Primary School

       43.       The Foundation of Tarabya Aya Paraşkevi Rum Orthodox Church  and School

       44.       The Foundation of Pashabahçe Aya Konstantin Rum Orthodox Church 

       45.       The Foundation of Ortaköy Aya Fokas Aya Yorgi Rum Orthodox Church 

       46.       The Foundation of Kuruçeşme Aya Dimitri Aya Yani Rum Orthodox Church

       47.       The Foundation of Yeniköy Panayia Rum Orthodox Church  and School

       48.       The Foundation of Boyacıköy Panayia Evangelistra Rum Orthodox Church 

       49.       The Foundation of Kadıköy Rum Orthodox Churches  and Schools

       50.       The Foundation of Balıklı Rum Hospital

       51.       The Foundation of Büyükdere Aya Paraşkevi Rum Orthodox Church 

       52.       The Foundation of Bakırköy Aya Yorgi Aya Analipsiz Rum Orthodox Churches and Schools

       53.       The Foundation of Kandilli Metemorfosis Jesus Rum Orthodox Church 

       54.       The Foundation of Koca Mustafa Pasha Belgrat Kapı Panayia Rum Orthodox Church 

       55.       The Foundation of Koca Mustafa Pasha Samatya Aya Nikola Rum Orthodox Church 

       56.       The Foundation of Koca Mustafa Pasha Samatya Aya Yorgi Rum Orthodox Church 

       57.       The Foundation of Samatya Aya Analipsiz Rum Orthodox Church 

       58.       The Foundation of Koca Mustafa Pasha Samatya Aya Konstantin Rum Orthodox Church 

       59.       The Foundation of Samatya Aya Mina Rum Orthodox Church 

       60.       The Foundation of Beyoğlu Yenişehir Evangelistra Rum Orthodox Church 

       61.       The Foundation of Aya Yorgi Rum Orthodox Church in the Courtyard Fener Rum Patriarchate

       62.       The Foundation of Yeniköy Aya Nikola Rum Orthodox Church 

       63.       The Foundation of Dereköy Aya Marina Rum Orthodox Church 

       64.       The Foundation of Tepeköy Evangelismos Rum Orthodox Church 

       65.       The Foundation of Zeytinliköy Aya Yorgi Rum Orthodox Church 

       66.       The Foundation of Bademliköy Panayia Kimisiz Rum Orthodox Church 

       67.       The Foundation of Bozcaada Kimisiz Teodoku Rum Orthodox Church 

       68.       The Foundation of Gökçeada Merkez Panayia Rum Orthodox Church 

       69.       The Poor Foundation of İskenderun Rum Orthodox Church 

       70.       The Foundation of Antakya Rum Orthodox Church 

       71.       The Foundation of Antakya Rum Catholic Church

       72.       The Foundation of Altınözü Tokaçlıköyü Rum Orthodox Church 

       73.       The Foundation of Samandağı Rum Orthodox Church 

       74.       The Foundation of İskenderun Arsuz Rum Orthodox Church 

       75.       The Foundation of Altınözü Sarılar Quarter Rum Orthodox Church 

       76.       The Foundation of Feriköy Surp Vartanaş Armenian Church

       77.       The Foundation of Üsküdar Surp Garabet Church and School Cemetery

       78.       The Foundation of Üsküdar Surp Haç Armenian Church School and Cemetery

       79.       The Foundation of Eyüp Surp Yeğiya Armenian Church

       80.       The Foundation of Eyüp Surp Astvazazin Armenian Church and Arakelyan School and Cemetery

       81.       The Foundation of Narlıkapı Surp Hovannes Armenian Church

       82.       The Foundation of Rumeli Hisarı Surp Sanduth Armenian Church

       83.       The Foundation of Kadıköy Surp Takavor Armenian Church Aramyan Uncuyan School and Cemetery

       84.       The Foundation of Kuzguncuk Surp Kirkor Lusavoriç Armenian Church

       85.       The Foundation of Beşiktaş Surp Astvazazin Meryemana Armenian Church

       86.       The Foundation of Ortaköy Surp Kirkor Lusavoriç ArmenianCatholic Church

       87.       The Foundation of Ortaköy Surp Astvazazin Meryemana Armenian Church and School

       88.       The Foundation of Boyacıköy Surp Yeris Mangas Armenian Church

       89.       The Foundation of Kandilli Surp Arakelos Armenian Church

       90.       The Foundation of Kartal Surp Nişan Armenian Church and School

       91.       The Foundation of Yenikapı Surp Tetaos Patriğimeos Armenian Church

       92.       The Foundation of Kınalıada Surp Kirkor Lusavoriç Armenian Church School and Cemetery

       93.       The Foundation of GedikPasha Armenian Protestant Churchand School

       94.       The Foundation of GedikPasha Surp Hovhannes Armenian Church

       95.       The Foundation of Bakırköy Surp Astvazazin Meryemana Armenian Church and School

       96.       The Foundation of Balat Surp Hreştegabet Armenian Church and School

       97.       The Foundation of Karaköy Surp Pırgıç Armenian Catholic Church

       98.       The Foundation of Beyoğlu Anarathıgutyun Armenian Catholic Priestess' Monastery and School

       99.       The Foundation of Beyoğlu Üç Horon Armenian Church

     100.       The Foundation of Beyoğlu Ohannes Gümüşyan Armenian Church

     101.       The Foundation of Beyoğlu Aynalı Çeşme Armenian Protestant Church

     102.       The Foundation of Beyoğlu Surp Gazer Armenian Catholic Mihitaryan Monastery and School

     103.       The Foundation of Pangaltı Armenian Catholic Mihitaryan Monastery and School

     104.       The Foundation of Yeniköy Küddipo Surp Astvazazin Armenian Church

     105.       The Foundation of Şişli Karagözyan Armenian Orphanage

     106.       The Foundation of Taksim Surp Agop Armenian Hospital

     107.       The Foundation of Kumkapı Surp Harutyun Armenian Church and School

     108.       The Foundation of Halıcıoğlu Meryemana Surp Astvazazin Armenian Church a Kalfayan Orphanage

     109.       The Foundation of Kumkapı Meryemana Armenian Church and School

     110.       The Foundation of Kuruçeşme Surp Cross Armenian Church

     111.       The Foundation of Büyükdere Surp Hripsimyans Armenian Church

     112.       The Foundation of Koca Mustafa Pasha Surp Kevork Armenian Church and School and Cemetery

     113.       The Foundation of Koca Mustafa Pasha Anarathigutyun Armenian Catholic Church

     114.       The Foundation of Topkapı Surp Nikagos Armenian Church and School

     115.       The Foundation of Galata Surp Lusavoriç (Cerçiş) Armenian Church

     116.       The Foundation of Yeşilköy Surp İstepanos Armenian Church and School and Cemetery

     117.       The Foundation of Hasköy Surp İstepanos Armenian Church and School

     118.       Apeloğlu Andon Vakfı Hayratından Yeniköy Surp Ohannes Mığırdıç Armenian Church

                    Büyükdere Surp Boğos Armenian Church

                    Büyükada Surp Astvazazin Verapohum Armenian Catholic Church

                    Sakız Ağacı Armenian Catholic Church

                    Beyoğlu Surp Yerurtutyun Armenian Catholic Church

                    Kadıköy Surp Levon Armenian Catholic Church

                    Tarabya Surp Andon Armenian Catholic Church

     119.       The Foundation of Yedikule Surp Pırgiç Armenian Hospital

     120.       The Foundation of Kumkapı Meryemana (Drasular) Armenian Church

     121.       The Foundation of Beykoz Surp Nikagos Armenian Church

     122.       The Foundation of İskenderun Karasun Manuk Armenian Catholic Church

     123.       The Foundation of Samandağı Vakıflı Village Armenian Orthodox Church 

     124.       The Foundation of Kayseri Surp Kirkor Armenian Church

     125.       The Foundation of Diyarbakır Armenian Surp Küçük Kilise Hıdır İlyas Surp Gregos Churches

     126.       The Foundation of Mardin Armenian Catholic Church

     127.       The Foundation of Büyükada Hased Leavram Jewish Synagogue

     128.       The Foundation of Hasköy Mealem Jewish Synagogue

     129.       The Foundation of Beyoğlu Jewish Rabbinate

     130.       The Foundation of Beyoğlu Seferadimi- Neveşalom Jewish Synagogue

     131.       The Foundation of Ortaköy Jewish Etz-Ahayim Synagogue

     132.       The Foundation of Sirkeci Jewish Synagogue

     133.       The Foundation of Kuzguncuk Bet-Yaokov Jewish Synagogue

     134.       The Foundation of Galata Yüksek Kaldırım Eşkenazi Jewish Synagogue

     135.       The Foundation of Hasköy Türk Karaim Jewish

     136.       The Foundation of Kadıköy Hemdat İsrael Synagogue

     137.       The Foundation of Balat Or-Ahayim Jewish Hospital

     138.       The Foundation of Balat Ahrida Jewish Synagogue

     139.       The Foundation of Ankara Jewish Synagogue

     140.       The Foundation of Bursa Turk Jewish Community

     141.       The Foundation of Çanakkale Mekor Hayim Jewish Synagogue

     142.       The Foundation of Antakya Jewish Synagogue

     143.       The Foundation of İskenderun Jewish Synagogue

     144.       The Foundation of Kırklareli Musa Synagogue

     145.       The Foundation of Diyarbakır Süryani Kadim Meryemana Church

     146.       The Foundation of Beyoğlu Süryani Kadim Meryemana Church

     147.       The Foundation of Mardin Süryan Catholic Church

     148.       The Foundation of Mardin Süryani Kadim Deyrulzafara Monastery Churches

     149.       The Foundation of Mardin Süryani Protestant Church

     150.       The Foundation of Midyat Süryani Protestant Church

     151.       The Foundation of Midyat Süryani Deyrulumur Margabriel Monastery

     152.       The Foundation of Midyat Süryani Kadim Commnuity Marborsom and Mart Şemuni Churches

     153.       The Foundation of İdil Süryani Kadim Church (Mardodo)

     154.       The Foundation of Diyarbakır Keldani Catholic Church

     155.       The Foundation of Keldani Catholic Church

     156.       The Foundation of Mardin Keldani Catholic Church

     157.       The Foundation of Edirne Sveti Gorci Church

     158.       The Foundation of Bulgar Ekzarhlığı Orthodox Church 

     159.       The Foundation of The Foundation of Şişli Georgian Catholic Church

     160.       The Foundation of Mersin Tomris Nadir Mutri Church

     161.       The Foundation of Kırıkhan Armenian Orthodox Church 

     162.       The Foundation of Elazığ Süryani Kadim Meryemana Church

     163.       The Foundation of Beyoğlu Merkez Rum Girls' School

     164.       The Foundation of İzmir Jewish Community

     165.       The Foundation of   Surp Haç Tibrevank Armenian School

     166        The Foundation of Büyükada Rum Boys and Girls' Orphanage

     167        The Foundation of  Beyoğlu Sakızağacı Armenian Catholic Surp Astvazazin Church

 

REGULATIONS DONE RELATED WITH THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS

 

The rights of settled minorities in Turkiye were safeguarded by the Treaty of Lausanne.

 

In this context; within framework of Foundations Law no. 2762 enforced in December 1935, the minorities were asked to file a return/statement in six months period in 1936. In these documents named as “1936 Declaration", the communities announced necessary places for carrying out the deeds and show the allocated goods (hayrat) and the income generating goods (mites). The legal entities which submitted declaration are defined as “community foundations" in our laws because they are governed by the administrators elected by their community members in current legal system. In addition, irrespective of the registered proprietor, it was provided to register whole real estates declared in their statements on their behalf. In brief, with the help of statements declared, minorities were both named as foundations and also had the chance to register their real estates to land registry.

 

Non-Muslim Community Foundations obtained property via endowment, legacy and purchase from 1936 to 1974.

 

With the 1974 Supreme Court decision, immovables which were taken by community foundations with endowment, legacy and purchase between 1936-1974 were returned their ex- tenants and some of these properties were assigned to Treasury, Directorate General of Foundations or third persons.

 

In order to solve registration problems of immovables which were affirmed in 1936 Declarations to the deeds office, return problems of properties which are taken after 1936 to their ex- tenants and other related problems; at the first time in 2003 a regulation is done in the framework of the EU harmony laws.

 

With this regulation;

-365 immovable properties were registered in their own foundations.

In addition; by minority (community) foundations,

            -38 immovable property endowments were accepted

            -12 immovable properties were purchased

            -11 immovable properties were sold

            -4 immovable properties were used as flat for rent.

 

With Foundations Law no. 5737 enforced in 2008;

“The return of immovable properties registered in the 1936 Declarations, which are registered in the property registry office under figurative or fictitious names and are still under the disposal of the foundations and currently registered in the property registry office in the name of Treasure and Directorate General on the grounds of not being able to acquire property to their own foundations were predicted.

 

With this regulation;

· 181 immovable properties are registered in their own foundations.

In addition;

· Property problems of 150 immovables were solved with the condition that to be finished amendment name in the property registry office. 

As a result of the two implementations, for the solution of the problems of the immovable properties registered in the 1936 Declaration, which are registered as open in the title deeds' owner section; registered in the name of Treasury, Directorate General of Foundations, municipality and special provincial administration other than the registration for the expropriation, sales and barter; registered in the property registry office in the name of the Treasury and Directorate General of Foundations despite the fact that they had been purchased by community foundations or bequeathed or endowed to the community foundations which are registered in the name of third parties; the cemeteries and fountains registered in the name of the public institutions, the Provisional Article 11 has been added to the Foundations Law no. 5737 in 27.08.2011.

 

By this regulation, the ownership problem of immovable properties which are registered in the 1936 Declaration with the properties obtained later on and registered in the name of third parties will be solved.

 

“PROVISIONAL ARTICLE 11 – The community foundations';

a)      Immovable properties registered in the 1936 Declaration, which are registered as open in the title deeds' owner section,

b)      Immovable properties registered in the 1936 Declaration, which are registered in the name of Treasury, Directorate General of Foundations, municipality and special provincial administration other than the registration for the expropriation, sales and barter.

c)      The cemeteries and fountains registered in the 1936 Declaration, which are registered in the name of the public institutions, shall be registered by the related property registry office in the name of the community foundation with the rights and obligations written in the title deeds, in case of applying within 12 months beginning from the enforcement of this article, after the affirmative decision of the Council. 

The current value determined by the Ministry of Finance of the immovable properties registered in the property registry office in the name of the Treasury or Directorate General of Foundations despite the fact that they had been purchased by community foundations or bequeathed or endowed to the community foundations which are registered in the name of third parties, are paid by Treasury and Directorate General of Foundations.

The rules and procedures concerning this article shall be governed by a regulation."

 

The Regulation regarding the application of the Provisional Article of Foundations Law no. 5737 was enforced in 01/10/2011 with the number of 28071 and inspection procedures for the applications were completed in the end of 2014.

 

With this regulation;

333 immovale properties were registered in the name of their owner foundations,

The price of 21 immovable properties was paid to their previous foundations.

 

To sum up, with all these regulations between 2003-2014 in total;

1029 immovale properties were registered in the name of their owner foundations,

The price of 21 immovable properties was paid to their previous foundations.

 

In addition, within scope of the Provisional Article 13 in the Foundations Law no. 5737 added on 27.03.2018, the ownerships of 55 immoavle properties, such as graveyards and places of worship (churches, monasteries, etc.) were transferred to 4 Syriac foundations.

 

Moreover, school-qualified charitable immovables which are not used by community foundations are converted into income-generating mite.

 

Community foundations are represented by 1 representative of the Foundations Council, the highest decision-making body of the Directorate General of Foundations.

Süleyman Can Ustabaşı, was elected as a member of the Foundations Assembly as a result of the fifth elections of the Foundations Council on the 29th of December 2020, has been representing the Community Foundations.

 

Furthermore, prayer halls that are used by our non-muslim citizens are being restorated by Directorate General of Foundations.

 

The immovable properties that were restorated:

• Edirne Central Synagogue (Big Synagogue)
• Canakkale Gokceada Saint Nicholas Church
• Gokceada Ayia Marina Greek Orthodox Church
• Hatay Iskenderun Syrian Catholic Church (This Church was allotted to the Istanbul Syrian Catholic Foundation by the decision of Foundations Council)
• Hatay Iskenderun Greek Catholic Church (This Church was allotted to the Antakya Greek Catholic Foundation by the decision of Foundations Council)
• Diyarbakir  Sur Armenian Protestant Church
• Diyarbakir  Sur Armenian Catholic Church
• Gaziantep Nizip Fevkani Church
• Gaziantep Sahinbey Synagogue
• Ayvalık Cunda Taksiyarhis (St. Nicholas) Church
• Arsuz Mar Yuhanna Church
• İstanbul Edirnekapı Saint Yorgi Church
• Hatay Yayladagi Greek Orthodox Church
• Anyalya alanya Saint George Chuch (This Church was allotted to the Alanya Municipality by the decision of Foundations Council)
• Çanakkale Gökçeada Kaleköy Monastery
• Bursa Osmangazi French Church
• Edirne Central Italian Church
• İstanbul Fatih Saint Yorgi (Rum Orthodox) Church
• İstanbul Fatih Kastoria Synaguge
• Adıyaman Central Mor Petrus- Mor Pavlus Church

 

The immovable properties still under restoration

• İstanbul Fatih Turisana Monastery (and Library)
• İstanbul Beyoğlu Sina Baldukyasko (Terra Santa) Church
• İstanbul Beşiktaş Andonyan Monastery

 

 

The immovable properties that will be projected

 

• Kilis Central Synagogue
• Samandağ Yoğunoluk Village Armenian Church
• Gökçeada Yıldız Village Chapel