Turkey to the rescue, grants stateless woman born in north Cyprus citizens: North Cyprus to grant her citizenship too

The north Cyprus Interior Ministry has issued a public statement outlining new developments in the case of 20-year-old Fatoş Horoz, whose lack of citizenship documentation left her in a legal and humanitarian limbo for years. 

The Ministry confirmed that her application for Turkish citizenship has now been formally submitted, paving the way for her subsequent eligibility for Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) citizenship.

The case gained widespread public attention after the young woman—born in Girne in 2005 but unable to obtain citizenship from either Turkey or the TRNC—was detained earlier this month on grounds of “residing without a permit” following her 18th birthday. Her situation, shaped by atypical family circumstances and missing documents, sparked strong public reaction and urgent calls for intervention.

Missing Documents Prevented TRNC Citizenship Application

The Interior Ministry emphasized that the obstacles preventing Horoz’s citizenship application did not stem from the young woman herself, but from missing documents required under national law. These documents, normally provided by parents, are necessary for all residents regardless of their circumstances.

Although Horoz was born and raised in the TRNC and meets the criteria for citizenship under the “18-year rule,” the Ministry noted that her application could not be processed without confirming her birthright eligibility for Turkish citizenship. Because both of her parents were Turkish citizens at the time of her birth, she was entitled to Turkish nationality—but her family never completed the required paperwork, leaving her without any citizenship.

Turkey Steps In: Citizenship Application Received

To resolve this gap, the Turkish Embassy in Lefkoşa, in coordination with the Gazimağusa Consulate, supported Horoz in submitting an application for Turkish citizenship earlier today. Once that process is completed, the Ministry stated, the necessary documents will be forwarded to the TRNC authorities.

The Ministry confirmed that after the completion of the Turkish citizenship process, Horoz’s file will be presented to the Council of Ministers, which will initiate the procedures for granting her TRNC citizenship.

‘Deportation Not on the Table’

Authorities made clear that despite her recent arrest for living without a valid residence permit, Horoz’s deportation is not being considered due to her birth and long-term residence in the country. Her situation falls under the category of individuals who are eligible for TRNC citizenship but face administrative barriers.

The Ministry noted that numerous young people in similar circumstances have obtained citizenship after completing the required documentation and emphasized that “a broad social consensus exists on resolving this matter fairly.”

A 20-Year Delay Nears Resolution

The case—widely referred to as the “identity drama” of a young woman left effectively stateless—appears to be nearing a resolution following two decades of bureaucratic complications. Public debate intensified after it emerged that Horoz had spent her entire life in the TRNC yet suddenly found herself facing legal consequences of a status she had no control over.

Interior Minister Dursun Oğuz confirmed that the government acted swiftly once the case came to light, coordinating efforts with the girl’s family, lawyer, and Turkish diplomatic authorities.

“Once the required documents are completed, the necessary steps for her TRNC citizenship will be finalized through the Council of Ministers,” the Ministry said.

The announcement has been welcomed by legal experts and civil society advocates, who have stressed the importance of ensuring that no child born and raised in the TRNC falls into a similar documentation void again.