Turks in Tunisia

Turks in Tunisia
Regions with significant populations
	Mahdia; Tunis; Cap Bon;
Languages
	Turkish; Tunisian Arabic; French;
Religion
	Sunni Islam

The Turks in Tunisia, also known as Turco-Tunisians^[1] and Tunisian Turks,^[2] (Arabic: أتراك تونس; French: Turcs de Tunisie; Turkish: Tunus Türkleri) are ethnic Turks who constitute one of the minority groups in Tunisia.^[3]

In 1534, with about 10,000 Turkish soldiers, the Ottoman Empire took control and settled in the region when Tunisia's inhabitants called for help due to fears that the Spanish would invade the country.^[4] Thus, during the Ottoman rule, the Turkish community dominated the political life of the region for centuries; as a result, the ethnic mix of Tunisia changed considerably with the continuous migration of Turks from Anatolia, as well as other parts of the Ottoman territories, for over 300 years. In addition, some Turks intermarried with the local population and their male offspring were called "Kouloughlis".^[5]^[6]^[7] Consequently, the terms "Turks" and "Kouloughlis" were used to distinguish between those of full and partial Turkish ancestry.^[8]

^ Hourani & Ruthven 2002, 129.
^ Today's Zaman. "Turks in northern Africa yearn for Ottoman ancestors". Archived from the original on 2011-03-13. Retrieved 2012-03-18.
^ UNESCO 2009, 9.
^ UNESCO 2009, 12.
^ Tunisia Today. "Vient de paraître "Tribus : des origines à la dislocation"". Retrieved 2012-04-18.
^ UNESCO 2009, 13.
^ Milli Gazete. "Levanten Türkler". Archived from the original on 2010-02-23. Retrieved 2012-03-19.
^ Miltoun, Francis (1985), The spell of Algeria and Tunisia, Darf Publishers, p. 129, ISBN 1850770603, Throughout North Africa, from Oran to Tunis, one encounters everywhere, in the town as in the country, the distinct traits which mark the seven races which make up the native population: the Moors, the Berbers, the Arabs, the Negreos, the Jews, the Turks and the Kouloughlis… descendants of Turks and Arab women.

[Hourani_&_Ruthven_2002_loc=129-1] Hourani & Ruthven 2002, 129.

[TodaysZaman-2] Today's Zaman. "Turks in northern Africa yearn for Ottoman ancestors". Archived from the original on 2011-03-13. Retrieved 2012-03-18.

[UNESCO_2009_loc=9-3] UNESCO 2009, 9.

[4] UNESCO 2009, 12.

[5] Tunisia Today. "Vient de paraître "Tribus : des origines à la dislocation"". Retrieved 2012-04-18.

[UNESCO_2009_loc=13-6] UNESCO 2009, 13.

[7] Milli Gazete. "Levanten Türkler". Archived from the original on 2010-02-23. Retrieved 2012-03-19.

[Miltoun-8] Miltoun, Francis (1985), The spell of Algeria and Tunisia, Darf Publishers, p. 129, ISBN 1850770603, Throughout North Africa, from Oran to Tunis, one encounters everywhere, in the town as in the country, the distinct traits which mark the seven races which make up the native population: the Moors, the Berbers, the Arabs, the Negreos, the Jews, the Turks and the Kouloughlis… descendants of Turks and Arab women.

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[2]

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Regions with significant populations
Mahdia Tunis Cap Bon
Languages
Turkish Tunisian Arabic French
Religion
Sunni Islam