Louroujina (Greek: Λουρουτζίνα (or Λουρουκίνα) [locally [luɾuˈt͡ʃina]]; Turkish: Akıncılar, previously Lurucina or Luricina) is a village in Cyprus, located within the salient that marks the southernmost extent of northern Cyprus. It was one of the largest Turkish Cypriot villages in Cyprus before the Turkish invasion of Cyprus. In 1974, Louroujina was secured so as to be placed within a contiguous Turkish Cypriot zone, which later became the internationally unrecognized Northern Cyprus. The United Nations Buffer Zone separates the Louroujina salient from the area controlled by the Republic of Cyprus. There is now a tunnel which has been designed to enter the village without going through any army points. The village is now open to everyone. There are many historic untouched buildings in this village. [4]
Louroujina
| |
|---|---|
  Louroujina Location of Louroujina in Cyprus | |
| Coordinates: 35°00′33″N 33°27′53″E / 35.00917°N 33.46472°E | |
| Country (de jure) |  Cyprus |
| • District | Nicosia District |
| Country (de facto) |  Northern Cyprus[1] |
| • District | Lefkoşa District |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Hasan Barbaros[2] |
| Population (2011)[3] | |
• Total | 390 |
| Website | Akincilar Turkish municipality The municipality in NC eGov portal |
Prior to 1960, Louroujina's population was Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots. The Turkish Cypriots constituted a majority. The Greek Cypriots, who numbered about 100, fled the village during the Emergency years. By 1973, 1,963 Turkish Cypriots were living in Louroujina. After the Turkish invasion, the majority were relocated in nearby villages; however, about 300 opted to stay, in contravention of the authorities' demand that they vacate the village.[4] As of 2011[update], Louroujina had a population of 390.[3]
According to legend, Louroujina is so named because it was founded by a woman named "Lorenziya".[5] In 1958, it was renamed Akıncılar in Turkish, meaning "raiders".[4] The new name is said to have been inspired by an inter-communal clash between Greek Cypriots and Louroujina Turkish Cypriots, who outnumbered the former, at Pyroi (Gaziler). In their flight, the Greek Cypriots shouted, "the Turkish Cypriots from Louroujina are flooding in" (in Turkish: Luricina'lılar akın akın geliyor).[5]
Sports
editTurkish Cypriot Akıncılar Sports Club was founded in 1942. As of 2016, it competes in Cyprus Turkish Football Association (CTFA) K-PET 2nd League.[6]
References
edit- ^ In 1983, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus unilaterally declared independence from the Republic of Cyprus. The de facto state is not recognised by any UN state except Turkey.
- ^ Northern Cyprus High Election Board [Northern Cyprus High Election Board], Northern Cyprus High Election Board
- ^ a b "KKTC 2011 Nüfus ve Konut Sayımı" [TRNC 2011 Population and Housing Census] (PDF) (in Turkish). TRNC State Planning Organization. 6 August 2013. p. 17. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 November 2013.
- ^ a b c "LOUROUJINA". Internal Displacement in Cyprus. PRIO Cyprus Centre. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
- ^ a b "Akıncılar Hakkında". Akıncılar Belediyesi (in Turkish). Archived from the original on 3 February 2015. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
- ^ Northern Cyprus Association of Football Clubs
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