Akinci calls for new population census in north Cyprus

Turkish Cypriot leader, Mustafa Akinci has called for a census based on which a ‘citizenship law’ would be prepared because currently the exact population number in north Cyprus is not known.

According to media report on Friday, Akinci said that it seemed the number of ‘citizens’ increased by 130,000 over the past three and a half years to 350,000.

Addressing an event, Akinci said that around 400 to 500 people were being granted ‘citizenship’ every month by the current ‘administration’ and stressed the need for a population census and preparing a ‘citizenship law’.

He reportedly said that the official population number given to him three and a half years ago was 220,000 but was told by the ‘interior ministry’ some two weeks ago that 343,000 persons hold identity cards of  TRNC, while the ‘interior minister’ later announced that that the number was 350,000.

Akinci said that the previous ‘administration’ used to grant ‘citizenships’ to around 1,000 people a month, whereas his ‘government’ grants between 400 to 500. These ‘citizenships’, he said, are granted by authorities following the due procedure.