Turkish Roma

Not to be confused with Romani people in Turkey.

The Turkish Roma, also referred to as Turkish Gypsies, Turcoman Gypsies, Türk Çingeneler, Turski Tsigani (турски цигани), Turkogifti (τουρκο-γύφτοι), Țigani turci, Török Cigányok, Turci Cigani are self-Turkified and assimilated Muslim Roma (Xoraxane) who have adopted Turkish culture, language and identity over the centuries. It is believed that, in many cases, they did so to elevate their social status, denying their Romani background to express their Turkic identity. They often descend from intermarriage with Turks and may identify exclusively as Turks. During a population census, they declared themselves as Turks and not as Roma. While they have always been allowed to live in Turkish communities as Turks, they face economic discrimination and have conflicting views among Turks while Christian Romani do not consider themselves as part of Romani society. They are cultural Muslims who adopted Sunni Islam of Hanafi madhab at the time of the Anatolian Seljuk Sultanate and Ottoman Empire.

Their legendary leader was Mansur ibn Yakub Han, called Çingene Han. He built his karavansaray in Malatya in 1224. Today it can still be seen as a ruin. Mansur bin Yakup Han is buried in the Ulu Mosque in Malatya.

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