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Evkaf is an Islamic organisation founded in Cyprus in 1571, when the island came
under Ottoman rule. The aims of the organisation are religious, communal and
cultural: the advancement of Islam, the relief of poverty, éducation and the
protection of the community and community interests, such as religious property.
After 1905, Britain increasingly took over the responsibility of éducation from
Evkaf. With the outbreak of the First World War in 1914 and the entry of Turkey
on the side of the Central European powers, Britain also took responsibility for
appointing the delegates of Evkaf, a situation which continued until four years
before independence in 1956 (at the beginning of Britain's war with Greek-Cypriot
nationalist guerrillas) when it was handed back to the Turkish-Cypriot community.
Under British rule, the Evkaf Office was absorbed by the colonial administration
and administered as a part of the Colonial Office. In 1944 the Immovable Property
Law converted large areas of Evkaf leasehold property to freehold, in many cases
transferring ownership to Greek-Cypriot tenants, particularly in the Varosha and
Morphou area 36 .
The Evkaf and Vakfs Law of 1955 began a process of devolving power from the
executive to the Turkish-Cypriot people, ruling that Evkaf was to be administered
by a council elected by the Turkish Community. At the same time, Governor John
Harding returned ail Evkaf properties that had been put to other uses, granting £1
million compensation to the Turkish-Cypriot community 37 . The first élection to the
Evkaf Council took place on 15 April 1956, when the seven member governing
Supreme Council was elected, with the Turkish-Cypriot delegate to the colonial
executive committee and the Mufti being appointed as ex-officio members. Special
members were appointed to look after the administration of mosques and other
religious buildings, but who were also responsible to the supreme council. With
36 Interview with Ozalp Sarica, op. cit., also Rustem 1987. op. cit., p.121.
37 Morvaridi, B. "Social Structure and Social Change", in Dodd 1993. op. cit., p. 264.
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