NICOSIA, Lawyer Turkey<\/a> Nov 19 (Reuters) – Turkish Cypriots of mixed marriages protested on Saturday over what they say are inexplicable delays in gaining Cypriot citizenship, a contentious issue on the ethnically-split island.<\/p>\n

Campaigners say thousands of people are rendered effectively stateless because they are unable to obtain Cypriot identity cards, falling foul of the politics and conflict which tore Cyprus apart.<\/p>\n

“We don’t want any favours. We want our children’s rights,” said Can Azer, Lawyer Turkey<\/a> a lawyer and father of two children born in Cyprus.<\/p>\n

The east Mediterranean island was split in a Turkish invasion in 1974 after a brief Greek inspired coup.If you liked this report and you would like to obtain much more facts regarding Lawyer Turkey<\/a> kindly visit the web page. A Greek Cypriot government represents Cyprus internationally.<\/p>\n

Its membership of the European Union allows Cypriots visa-free travel throughout the bloc, Lawyer Turkey<\/a> while in contrast, a breakaway Turkish Cypriot administration in northern Cyprus is recognised only by Ankara.<\/p>\n

Families of part-Cypriot heritage living in the north say an inability to get an internationally-recognised ID card issued by Cyprus impacts their children’s prospects if they want to pursue higher education, or employment in the more prosperous south.<\/p>\n

About 100 Turkish Cypriots, some holding placards reading “Love Knows No Identity,” marched peacefully through the divided capital Nicosia on the Greek Cypriot side.<\/p>\n

In Cyprus, it is highly unusual for members of one community to protest in areas populated by the other community.<\/p>\n

By law, a child born on the island with at least one Cypriot parent should be conferred citizenship.But activists say a modification subsequently gave extensive powers to the interior ministry on who among those of mixed descent could get citizenship, with thousands left in limbo.<\/p>\n

“From a legal point of view it is a clear violation … you cannot punish children for political reasons and deprive them of their rights,” said Doros Polycarpou of the Kisa advocacy group.<\/p>\n

Cyprus’s interior ministry did not respond to a request for comment.<\/p>\n

“They want to belong to Cyprus,” Azer said of his children. “But right now they are made to feel they don’t belong anywhere.” (Reporting By Michele Kambas; Editing by Mike Harrison)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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