Settlement of the occupied territory

Turkish settlement of the occupied area constitutes a war crime according to international law, as well as a matter of constant and intense protests of the Turkish Cypriots, who have become a minority in the occupied area. The number of Turkish Cypriots who have been granted birth certificates from the Republic of Cyprus is approximately 100,000, while, according to Turkish data, the total population of the occupied area is claimed to amount to 300,000 and the number of the so-called "citizens" of the illegal secessionist entity is said to be 220,000. Turkish Cypriot politicians and media reports have been protesting that Ankara is currently aiming at and implements the gradual granting of "citizenship" to a further 26,000 Turkish settlers in the occupied area.