 The Varlik Vergisi was followed by the Istanbul pogrom a few years later , where an organized mob attacked Greeks and Armenians on 6 – 7 September 1955 . The material damage was considerable , with damage to 5317 properties ( including 4214 homes , 1004 businesses , 73 churches , 2 monasteries , 1 synagogue , and 26 schools ) . Estimates of the economic cost of the damage range from the Turkish government 's estimate of 69 @.@ 5 million Turkish lira ( equivalent to 24 @.@ 8 million US $ ) , the British estimate of 100 million GBP ( about 200 million US $ ) , the World Council of Churches ' estimate of 150 million US $ , and the Greek government 's estimate of 500 million US $ . The pogrom eventually lead to an exodus of non @-@ Muslims out of the country , resulting in a significant amount of " abandoned " properties . The property left behind by those who fled were confiscated by the Turkish state after ten years . 
