A General Outlook to the Problems of Balkan Muslim Immigrants’ Properties

Abstract: ottoman empire had been exposed to movements of migration in various times since its foundation. so many migrations to ottoman country occurred from areas lost in battles fought since 17th and 18th centuries, and from lands drifted away from the government with nationalist movements. migration mobility continued increasing in number, and balkan wars, especially, constituted the breaking point of this process. ottoman empire, who lost its former power and whose economy was badly affected because of the long lasting wars, had to take care of the proper settlement and feeding affairs on the one hand, and had to handle with the problems about the properties that the immigrants left in the places they were forced to migrate, on the other. it is remarkable that no regulation was made related to the properties left by muslims, while there were some legal studies for protecting and managing armenians’ properties. even today, while armenians’ demands are increasing, it is seen that muslims’ properties left behind are not taken into consideration. thus, these people’s appeals for the return of the properties and relevant governments’ practices confirm this thought.