Turks in Tunisia

The Turks in Tunisia, also known as Turco-Tunisians and Tunisian Turks, (أتراك تونس; Turcs de Tunisie; Tunus Türkleri) are ethnic Turks who constitute one of the minority groups in Tunisia.

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. 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". Consequently, the terms "Turks" and "Kouloughlis" were used to distinguish between those of full and partial Turkish ancestry.

Demographics
Families of Turkish origin live mainly near the coastal cities, such as Tunis, Mahdia, Hammamet and the islands (such as Djerba), although there are also many living within central Tunisia as well.

Language
In 2012 the Tunisian government introduced the Turkish language in all Tunisian secondary schools.

Religion
The Ottoman Turks brought with them the teaching of the Hanafi School of Islam during the Ottoman rule of Tunisia, which still survives among the Turkish-descended families today. Traditionally, Turco-Tunisian mosques have octagonal minarets. Examples of Ottoman-Turkish mosques include:

Notable people
The Turks in Tunisia were traditionally a privileged élite in Tunisia who held positions in the military and the bureaucracy. However, by the nineteenth century, marriages with the local population linked the ruling families to indigenous notables. At this time, many Turks also turned to commerce and the crafts, initially in the Souq el-Trouk (the Bazaar of the Turks), where a considerable number of merchants of Turkish ancestry emerged. The Turks also entered the corps of artisans. The Ben Romdhan family, of Turkish origin, claim much of the notable Tunisian families of Mahdia such as the Hamza, Turki, Gazdagli, Agha, and Snène families. Other prominent Tunisian families of Turkish origin include the Bayram family, Belkhodja family, El Materis, Sfar family, Osman family, Mamis and the Slim family (Tunisia)s.


 * Ahmed Abdelkefi, economist
 * Hassan Hosni Abdelwaheb, historian
 * Mahmoud Aslan, writer
 * Saloua Tarzi Ben Attia, politician
 * Al-Husayn I ibn Ali at-Turki, founder of the Husainid Dynasty
 * Mohamed Salah Baratli, resistant of the French occupation, opponent of President Bourguiba, human rights activist
 * Ahmed Bayram, religious cleric
 * M'hammed Bayram, religious cleric
 * Mohamed Bayram V, intellectual
 * Mohamed Taieb Bayram, religious cleric
 * Ahmed Belkhodja, religious cleric
 * Asma Belkhodja, pioneer of the Tunisian feminist movement
 * M'hammed Belkhodja, politician
 * Ali Bach Hamba, journalist and politician
 * Mohamed Bach Hamba, writer
 * Mahmoud Ben Mahmoud, filmmaker
 * Yasemin Besson, wife of Éric Besson
 * Hassen Bouhajeb, doctor
 * Mahmoud Bourguiba, journalist
 * Ahmed Chérif, doctor
 * Béchir Dinguizli, doctor
 * Mustapha Dinguizli, politician
 * Ali Douagi, literary and cultural icon
 * Abderrahman Dziri, medical researcher
 * Mustafa Elkatipzade, Fenerbahçe football manager
 * Nazli Fadhel, pioneer of the Tunisian feminist movement
 * Sadok Ghileb, politician
 * Fadhila Khetmi, theatre director
 * Afef Jnifen, model and actress
 * Mohamed Lahbib, pioneer of theater and television in Tunisia
 * Mahmoud El Materi, physician and politician
 * Moncef El Materi, former soldier and businessman
 * Sakher El Materi, businessman
 * Tahar El Materi, businessman
 * Habib Osman, photographer
 * Mustapha Osman, artist
 * Chafia Rochdi, singer and actress
 * Hichem Rostom, actor
 * Mourad Salem, artist
 * Rachid Sfar, former prime minister
 * Mongi Slim, nationalist leader and Minister
 * Mustapha Kamel Tarzi, diplomat
 * Najiya Thamir, writer and radio producer
 * Hedi Turki, painter
 * Yahia Turki, painter
 * Zoubeir Turki, painter
 * Abdeljelil Zaouche, Minister of Justice (1936–1943)
 * Sadok Zmerli, professor