ACRIT CY · Analysis of Constructions of Religious Identities among Turks in Cyprus (1925-2010)

The Turks of Cyprus constitute the biggest non-migrant Muslim community in the EU. So far no systematic research on their religious identity has been carried out. The religious attitudes of the Cypriot Turks are usually labeled with epithets such as “halfhearted” or “lax”. The deconstruction of this label would be one of the aims of the research.The main target of the proposed project is to identify the various constructions of religious identities among Turks in Cyprus (approx. 80% of the Cypriots are Greek Orthodox, while 18% adhere to Islam) between 1925 and today, against the background of the varying political circumstances. It is self-evident that the significant political and economic changes during the sample period have exerted a decisive influence on all aspects of identity, including the religious aspect. A non-normative approach allows identifying the religious aspects of identity constructions and their changes over time.The research design is as follows: The period under consideration is divided into three units: The period when Cyprus was a Crown Colony of the British Empire (1925-1960), the unstable interim period until 1974, and finally the period from the Turkish invasion till today.The research is based on sources such as local newspapers, grey literature and, for the recent period, qualitative interviews. The project combines synchronic with diachronic analysis. Three themes will be investigated throughout all periods: The evaluation of the Kemalist Revolution by the Cypriot Turks, the equation of “Turk” and “Muslim”, and the self-perception of Cypriot Turks as “Europeans”. In the proposed project, religion is understood as functional and substantive.The underlying assumption is that by means of a non-normative approach a sound picture of the varieties of religious identity among Turks of Cyprus will emerge. It is hoped that the proposed project will contribute to a deeper socio-cultural understanding of the Turkish Cypriot community.""