On Northern Cyprus, a stateless young woman has been detained: the court extended her remand in custody

20-year-old Fatoş Horuz, born in Northern Cyprus and lacking citizenship, will remain in custody for another 7 days — a decision made by the Gazimağusa Kaza Mahkemesi. The woman was detained on 17 November for not having a residence permit.

According to her lawyer, Horuz effectively lives in a legal vacuum: despite submitted applications, neither the citizenship of the TRNC nor that of Turkey has been granted to her. She only has a birth certificate, and official procedures have remained incomplete for years.

The situation is further complicated by family circumstances: her mother left the island in 2008 and cannot return due to a migration debt, while her father obtained citizenship only in 2023. In 2024, Fatoş officially took his surname, but this also did not move the process forward.

The lawyer notes that the girl effectively falls under the status of a stateless person, but it has not been formalized, so she cannot obtain exemption from a residence permit. As a result, Horuz can neither be deported nor released.

The lawyer emphasizes that for years the girl has been unable to fully exercise basic rights — from education to healthcare — and today she continues to be held in a cell.