'Destruction of cultural heritage is a violation of human rights'
  The Greek Cypriot administration has been using the buildings and lands belonging to thousands of Evkaf illegally since 1974.
Cyprus Foundations Administration (EVKAF) made a statement regarding the destroyed Dianellio Technical School in Southern Cyprus. Here is the description:
The Greek Cypriot Administration's demolition of the "Dianellio Technical School" in Larnaca, which belonged to the Evkaf and was partially destroyed, was reflected in the press and supported by visuals. The newspaper stated that since the land in question belongs to Evkaf, it is not possible to reconstruct it on the land. In line with the aforementioned news, while the GCA could ensure that a property belonging to the Foundations Administration, contrary to the international cultural heritage law, is restored by the Foundations Administration through the Cultural Heritage Committee or UNDP, by directly infringing on the property right, only part of it. We need to state that it is against the rules of Evkaf and Ahkamül Evkaf, and international law, to destroy it completely because it is ruined.
The Greek Cypriot administration has been using the buildings and lands belonging to thousands of Evkaf illegally since 1974.
The Greek Cypriot Administration is in serious violations in terms of loss of use and damage to other Foundation buildings due to the usurpation of Evkaf properties. It is clear that as a result of the damages arising from the attempts of the Greek Cypriot Administration of the occupation of the Evkaf's properties, the Greek Cypriot Administration is responsible for material and moral compensation to the Evkaf. On the basis of our research, the income loss of Evkaf is calculated in billions of euros. In fact, the neglect and demolition of the buildings belonging to the Evkaf by the Greek Cypriot Administration is a violation of international law. Stating that we strongly condemn this arbitrary and unlawful attitude towards our cultural heritage, we will fight in every way for this destruction and destruction without prejudice to our legal rights.
For this reason, as Foundations, we emphasize once again that “Destroying the cultural heritage is a violation of human rights”. This discourse of ours is the basic principle of international law. See, the view that “it is not possible to separate the cultural heritage of a people from the people and their rights” is stated even in institutions such as UN Reports, UNESCO, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
So this is a very serious issue. The destruction of this Turkish Cypriot's cultural heritage is an attack on people and their fundamental rights. Therefore, it is a serious crime against humanity and a violation of the most basic human rights to destroy the buildings belonging to the Evkaf, which have existed for hundreds of years, by the UNDP or the Cultural Heritage Committee, instead of ensuring that the buildings that have existed for hundreds of years are modified by the UNDP or the Cultural Heritage Committee. In addition, this action is against UNESCO's Cultural Heritage Protection Law. Although GCA has no authority over the Evkaf properties, it has created devastating results with its arbitrary actions. We express that we will use our compensation rights for each of the destructions caused by these, and that we will also continue our legal struggle for our usurped property. Finally, our lawsuits filed in courts in the south for the assets of a foundation remain inconclusive. We are taking this illegal attitude to AHİM. In the aforementioned case, the Greek Cypriot courts acted contrary to international law. Our Evkaf goods, which symbolize our cultural heritage, belong to all of us. The attack on them is an attack on the Turkish Cypriot identity, culture, tradition, and existence. Therefore, let's not be silent about crimes against humanity.

Prof. dr. Ibrahim Benter
General Manager of Foundations Administration