The Varlık 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 led to an exodus of non-Muslims from the country , resulting in a significant amount of " abandoned " properties . The properties left behind by those who fled were confiscated by the Turkish state after ten years
Istanbul pogrom
Istanbul pogrom
Confiscation of Armenian properties in Turkey