Foundation Islamic Union
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
Official Name: Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC)
Capital : Nicosia
Important Cities: Kyrenia, Gazimagosa, Guzelyurt, Varosha.
Area: 3,355 km2 (36.5% of the island of Cyprus).
Population : 382,200 (2021). 40 per cent of the population lives in cities.[1]
Average Human Lifespan: 74 Years
Ethnic Structure: 98.71 per cent of the TRNC population is Turkish. 0.5 per cent is Greek.
Language: The official language is Turkish. The majority of the population speaks Turkish.
Religion: 98.71% of Turkish Cypriots are Muslim and Sunni, while 0.5% are Greek Cypriots.
Orthodox Christians. There are 0.2% Maronite Christians.
Geographical Situation: The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, an island country in the Eastern Mediterranean, is surrounded by Greek Cyprus from the south-west and the Mediterranean Sea from other directions. The island of Cyprus is 71 km from Turkey, 98 km from Syria, 384 km from Egypt and 900 km from Greece. It has several streams that dry up in summer. 57% of its territory is agricultural land, 5% is grassland and 20% is forested. The average annual temperature in the capital Nicosia is 18.5 degrees and the average annual rainfall is 244 mm.
Mode of Government: It is governed by a multi-party democratic system. The supreme head of state is the president and the head of government is the prime minister. There is a 50-member parliament. Members of parliament are elected in free elections. On 5 May 1985, following a referendum, a constitution was adopted. The preamble of the constitution states that it is a secular country. The TRNC has not yet been admitted to the United Nations (UN), the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and other international organisations.
Political Parties: National Unity Party: It has a liberal and pro-Western approach. Democrat Party: It has a nationalist and liberal approach. Republican Turkish Party: Leftist. The Socialist Liberation Party: It is a left-wing party that advocates a federal system with the Greeks.
History: The first expedition to the island of Cyprus by the Islamic armies was organised in 649 during the caliphate of Hz. Osman (r.a.). In this expedition, a part of the island was captured. In 653, a second expedition was organised and the dominance of the Islamic state over this island was strengthened. However, a part of the island remained under the Byzantine rule. After the second expedition in 653, Muslims started to settle in Cyprus. However, non-Muslim natives continued to exist and the island could not be fully Islamised. In 964, the island of Cyprus was again under Byzantine rule. The second conquest of Cyprus was realised by the Ottomans in 1571. After this second conquest, some Muslim Turks were transferred to the island for the purpose of reconstruction of Cyprus, revitalisation of the economic life in the island, etc. Thus, a Muslim mass started to form on the island again. Since the Ottomans provided freedom of religion by opening the Orthodox churches closed by the Venetians, they gained the approval of the local population. However, some masses under the influence of the Megali Idea (Great Goal), also known as ENOSIS movement, which emerged among the Greeks towards the end of the 18th century, started to disturb them by attacking Muslim masses from time to time. The Ottoman rule over Cyprus lasted until 1878, when the island was occupied by the British. Under the British occupation, the activities of the Greeks under the influence of the Enosis movement and their attacks against Muslim Turks increased. On 1 April 1955, Greeks established a secret organisation called EOKA in order to realise the Enosis ideal. British occupation continued until 1960. In 1960, the independent Republic of Cyprus was established. This republic was established on the basis that the Turkish and Greek Cypriots would share sovereignty according to the principle of equality. It was also agreed that Turkey, Greece and the United Kingdom would be guarantor states. However, the Greeks, who had adopted the Enosis movement, started to carry out activities for the Greek Cypriot domination over the whole island and to harass the Turks for this purpose since the foundation days of the Republic of Cyprus. Despite the prohibition of Enosis by law, the Greek Cypriots in the state administration, especially President Makarios, turned a blind eye to the provocative activities of those who supported Enosis and even encouraged those who carried out these activities. The provocative actions turned into armed attacks on 21 December 1963. On the other hand, the Greeks in the state administration completely neutralised their Turkish partners and took over all state levels. Upon this situation, Turkey applied to the UN Security Council on 13 December 1964 and requested that necessary initiatives be taken to improve the situation in Cyprus. However, the UN Security Council did not do anything beyond taking some advisory decisions. Moreover, it decided to accept the government, which was completely occupied by the Greeks, as the interlocutor. Encouraged by this attitude of the UN, the Greek administration started to organise attacks and actions against the Turks. The UN sent a 'Peace Force' to the island on 27 March 1964. However, the 'Peace Force' could not stop the attacks against the Turks. In fact, it took a supportive attitude towards the Greek Cypriot administration. In addition, the Greek government also started to provide military support to the Greek Cypriot administration in Cyprus. In the face of all these developments, Turks had to leave many settlements and seek refuge in safer areas. Turkey, which was the guarantor state in Cyprus, did not do anything during these years except to make some initiatives before the UN. The Greeks committed brutal acts against the Turks on the island. They burnt down many villages. In some villages they also burnt people. Many Turks were killed in other ways. The Turks, who at the founding of the Republic of Cyprus had about 33 per cent of the island, were reduced to 3 per cent as a result of the attacks. This persecution of Turks continued until 1974. On 20 July 1974, Turkey carried out a military operation in Cyprus based on the right granted by Article 4 of the guarantee agreement. This operation lasted for 3 days. Afterwards, peace negotiations were initiated. However, after the Greek administration and the Greek Cypriot side rejected all the proposals, a second military operation was launched on 15 August 1974. With this second operation lasting 2 days, the region that constitutes the territory of today's Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus was taken from the Greek Cypriots and thus the military operation was ended. After this operation, a bi-communal federal administration was requested to be established on the island and for this purpose, the Turkish Federated State of Cyprus was established on 13 February 1975 to form the Turkish wing of the federation. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus was established on 15 November 1983 after the Greek Cypriots refused to join the federation.
Internal Problems: Magosa, which was taken with the peace operation, has still not been opened for settlement.
External Problems: The most important external problem is the problem arising from the Greek Cypriots' claim over the whole island and the fact that various international organisations, especially the UN, accept the Republic of Cyprus, dominated by the Greeks, as the legitimate administration of the island. The problem is further deepened by the fact that the international powers support the Greeks and Greece, which is the country that provides them with the greatest support on the international platform, while Turkey, as a guarantor state, remains weak in defending the Cyprus cause. For all these reasons, most of the countries of the world have not officially recognised the TRNC. The pro-Greek attitude of the UN is also effective in this regard.
Islam in the country: Both during the British occupation and the subsequent Greek Cypriot rule, the prevention of Islamic education and the prevention of the Muslim people from learning and living their religion led to the weakening of Islamic life in Cyprus. The British and the Greeks tried to impose their own culture and way of life on the Muslims in the island. The effect of this is still evident today. Today, various activities have been initiated in order to inform and raise awareness of the people of Cyprus in terms of Islam. There are 191 mosques in the TRNC. However, most of them are staffed by honorary imams. The negligence of the administration is seen in this. The administration does not show the necessary effort for the revival of Islamic life and informing the growing generation about Islam. The Islamic studies carried out are generally voluntary studies. The leading ones carrying out these voluntary activities are the Cyprus Turkish-Islamic Culture Association and Sheikh Nazım Kıbrısî, one of the famous Sufis of Cyprus, and his followers.
Economy: Its economy is based on agriculture, trade and manufacturing industry. 57% of its territory is suitable for agriculture. The share of agricultural products in gross domestic product is 10 per cent. Approximately 25.5% of the working population is employed in agriculture. The main agricultural products are cereals, citrus fruits and various fruits and vegetables. In 1992, 64 thousand tonnes of cereals, 260 thousand tonnes of fruits and 5 thousand tonnes of vegetables were produced. Livestock breeding is also in good condition compared to the population.
Currency: Turkish Lira
National Income per Capita: USD 13,367[2]
Foreign Trade: The main products exported are foodstuffs, agricultural products, machinery, motor vehicles, motor vehicle spare parts, finished goods, lubricants and chemicals. Many of these are not produced but only traded. Foodstuffs, motor vehicles, machinery, industrial products, pharmaceuticals, electrical and electronic equipment are the main imported goods. Turkey takes the first place in foreign trade. In addition, it has trade with other countries, especially the European Union countries. Turkey's share in imports is 45 per cent and its share in exports is 15 per cent. The share of the European Union countries in exports and imports is 78 per cent and 34 per cent, respectively. The foreign trade deficit in 1990 was $316 million and the deficit in the international current account in 1992 was $16 million.
Industry: After the 1974 operation, the industrial sector in the Turkish part of Cyprus has made a serious development. Existing industrial establishments are generally small industrial establishments for manufacturing. Food industry is also in good condition. The share of industrial income in gross domestic product is 12 per cent. 11.2% of the working population is employed in the industrial sector.
Energy: Energy production and consumption also increased after the 1974 military operation. In 1991, 65 million kw/h of electricity was produced. However, the current energy production does not meet the domestic demand. Approximately 350 million kw/h electricity is imported annually. Annual electricity consumption per capita is 2370 kw/hour.
Transport: There are three airports, one each at Ercan near Nicosia, Pinarbasi and Geçitkale. All three are open to international traffic. Gazimagosa port is the leading port used for export and import. Gazimagosa port is the biggest port of TRNC. There are also harbours in Kyrenia and Gemikonagi. It has 2700 km of motorways. There is one motorised transport vehicle for 3.1 persons in TRNC. Traffic is on the left.
Health: There are 51 hospitals, 250 doctors, 105 dentists, 310 nurses in the Republic of Turkey. There is one doctor for 688 people.
Education: In the TRNC, primary education starts at the age of 6 and lasts for 5 years, while secondary education (middle and high school) lasts for 6 years. According to 1991 figures, there are 149 primary schools, 50 secondary education institutions (middle and high schools), 11 vocational secondary education institutions, 1 university and 5 higher education institutions. Among the young people of higher education age, the rate of those enrolled in higher education institutions is 25 per cent. The rate of those who can read and write is 97 per cent.
Administrative Division: The TRNC consists of 3 provinces and 199 settlements.
[1] www.ticaet.gov.tr(Accessed October-2021)
[2] www.ticaet.gov.tr(October-2021 Access)
