Stateless Resident F.H. Detained for 7 More Days Over Citizenship Issues

The 20-year-old, who was born in Kyrenia on 7 June 2005, faces a prolonged statelessness problem despite both her biological parents being citizens of Turkey. At the time of her birth, her mother was not married to her biological father, so F.H. initially received the surname of her mother’s legal spouse. Although a court decision in 2024 allowed her to take her biological father’s surname, her father only acquired TRNC citizenship in 2023.

F.H. was left alone in Northern Cyprus when her mother left the island when she was three years old. Her lawyer, Beste Dal, emphasized that despite F.H. being legally considered stateless and holding a residence permit, authorities have failed to address her citizenship applications or grant an exemption certificate. Dal explained, “On 17 November 2025, my client was detained due to allegedly living without a residence permit. All of our previous applications have gone unanswered. The lack of a permit exemption and the unresolved citizenship applications have effectively trapped F.H. in a dead-end situation.”

Dal further highlighted that F.H. has been deprived of access to education, healthcare, and other fundamental rights, calling on authorities to urgently find a solution. “A young person born and raised in these lands being detained still today deeply wounds public conscience. Authorities must listen to the voice of a young person fighting for her identity,” Dal said.

The lawyer also noted that even if F.H. were released, she would continue to face the same statelessness challenges and could not be deported, urging officials to provide a long-term resolution.

F.H. appeared in Famagusta District Court today, where the judge ordered that she remain in detention for an additional seven days.