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| Turkish Cypriot community | |
|---|---|
| Name | Turkish Cypriot community |
| Native name | Kıbrıslı Türkler |
| Population | ~300,000–400,000 (est.) |
| Regions | Northern Cyprus, Turkey, United Kingdom, Australia |
| Religions | Sunni Islam, Alevism, secularism |
| Languages | Turkish, Cypriot Turkish |
Turkish Cypriot community
The Turkish Cypriot community is an ethnoreligious group originating on the island of Cyprus with diasporic populations in Turkey, the United Kingdom, Australia, and elsewhere. Their modern identity has been shaped by events such as the Ottoman Cyprus period, the Cyprus Emergency, the Turkish intervention in Cyprus, and the declaration of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Prominent figures associated with Turkish Cypriot history include Rauf Denktash, Fazıl Küçük, Bülent Ecevit, Glafcos Clerides, and Makarios III.
Early Muslim presence on Cyprus followed contacts during the Byzantine Empire and intensified under the Seljuk Empire and later the Ottoman Empire (1299–1922), which administered Ottoman Cyprus from 1571, bringing settlers linked to provinces such as Anatolia, Konya, and Aydın. The community's land and social structures changed under the Tanzimat reforms and the wider politics of the Eastern Question. During the British Cyprus period, figures like H. C. Clogg and events including the Enosis movement and the EOKA campaign affected intercommunal relations, culminating in the constitutional crisis after independence in 1960 and the violence of the 1963–64 intercommunal clashes, sometimes referenced alongside the Bloody Christmas (1963). The 1974 Cyprus coup d'état and subsequent Turkish invasion of Cyprus (1974) led to partition, population transfers, and the proclamation of the Turkish Federated State of Cyprus and later the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in 1983, unrecognized by the United Nations except for Turkey. Peace initiatives have included United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus, the Annan Plan, negotiations mediated by figures such as Alvaro de Soto and institutions like the United Nations Security Council.
Contemporary populations are concentrated in areas administered by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, notably cities such as Nicosia (Lefkoşa), Famagusta (Gazimağusa), Kyrenia (Girne), and Morphou (Güzelyurt). Significant diasporas exist in London, Birmingham, Melbourne, and urban centers in Istanbul and Ankara, often connected to migration waves following 1960s unrest and the 1974 partition. Census and survey data from entities like the State Planning Organization (Northern Cyprus) and Office for National Statistics have been used alongside academic studies by scholars such as Steven R. H. Moses and Rebecca Bryant. Population estimates vary; generations include descendants of Ottoman settlers, recent settlers from Anatolia after 1974, and mixed-heritage families.
The community's main language is Cypriot Turkish, a variety of Turkish language influenced by contact with Cypriot Greek and historic languages of the island such as Ladino and Arabic. Literary and musical traditions include influences from Ottoman-era poets, performers associated with the Sufi tradition like links to Mevlevi Order, and contemporary artists. Cultural institutions such as the Near East University arts programs, the Nicosia Municipal Theatre, and festivals in Famagusta (Salamis) and Kyrenia (Girne) International events showcase music, theater, and cinema connected to directors, playwrights, and composers from the island. Cuisine reflects Ottoman, Levantine, and Mediterranean patterns seen in dishes related to meze, baklava, and regional ingredients. Folkloric practices include folk dances akin to Zeybek and seasonal customs tied to agricultural cycles documented in ethnographic work by scholars from institutions like Bilkent University and University of Cyprus.
Religious life is predominantly associated with Sunni Islam institutions such as the Evkaf Administration (Waqf), mosques like the Selimiye Mosque in Nicosia (formerly Saint Sophia Cathedral), and religious leaders who interact with civil society. Minority religious identities include Alevism and secular communities; interfaith heritage is visible in sites such as the St. Barnabas Monastery and conversions of churches during Ottoman rule. Identity politics involve cultural heritage issues addressed by organizations like UNESCO and debates over property and refugees referenced in European Court of Human Rights rulings and resolutions by the United Nations General Assembly.
Political life is shaped by parties including the National Unity Party (Northern Cyprus), the Republican Turkish Party, and the Democratic Party (Northern Cyprus), with leaders such as Mustafa Akıncı and Ersin Tatar participating in negotiation tracks under auspices like the United Nations Secretary-General and envoys such as Espen Barth Eide. Constitutional arrangements derive from the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee and the Treaty of Alliance involving Greece, Turkey, and the United Kingdom. International relations are characterized by recognition only by Turkey for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and by ongoing talks involving the European Union, the Council of Europe, and actors such as the European Commission in contexts including accession dynamics and aid projects managed by agencies like USAID and European Union Monitoring Mission initiatives.
Economic sectors include tourism in coastal towns like Kyrenia (Girne), higher education with universities such as Near East University, Eastern Mediterranean University, and institutions attracting international students, and agriculture in the Mesaoria plain with crops exported to markets in Turkey and beyond. Financial and legal issues have involved entities like the European Court of Justice and banking links to institutions in Istanbul and Nicosia, while development projects have been supported by organizations such as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. Educational systems follow curricula at schools and universities accredited in part through cooperation with Turkish and international bodies, and research collaborations have involved scholars from King's College London, University of Oxford, and University of Cambridge.