page_title: Turks in Tunisia
section_title: Notable people
hierarchical_section_title: Turks in Tunisia / Notable people
caption_attribution_description: Français&#160;: يحيى التركي Français&#160;: Yahia Turki peintre tunisien qualifié de «&#160;père de la peinture tunisienne&#160;»
context_page_description: The Turks in Tunisia, also known as Turco-Tunisians and Tunisian Turks, are ethnic Turks who constitute one of the minority groups in Tunisia.
  In 1534, with about 10,000 Turkish soldiers, the Ottoman Empire took control and settled in the region when Tunisia's inhabitants called for help due to fears that the Spanish would invade the country. Thus, during the Ottoman rule, the Turkish community dominated the political life of the region for centuries; as a result, the ethnic mix of Tunisia changed considerably with the continuous migration of Turks from Anatolia, as well as other parts of the Ottoman territories, for over 300 years. In addition, some Turks intermarried with the local population and their male offspring were called "Kouloughlis". Consequently, the terms "Turks" and "Kouloughlis" have traditionally been used to distinguish between those of full and partial Turkish ancestry.
  In northern Cap Bon, the town of Hammam Ghezèze is populated with descendants of Oghuz Turks.
context_section_description: The Turks in Tunisia were traditionally a privileged élite in Tunisia who held positions in the military and the bureaucracy. However, by the nineteenth century, marriages with the local population linked the ruling families to indigenous notables. At this time, many Turks also turned to commerce and the crafts, initially in the Souq el-Trouk (the Bazaar of the Turks), where a considerable number of merchants of Turkish ancestry emerged. The Turks also entered the corps of artisans. The Ben Romdhan family, of Turkish origin, claim much of the notable Tunisian families of Mahdia such as the Hamza, Turki, Gazdagli, Agha, and Snène families. Other prominent Tunisian families of Turkish origin include the Bayrams, Belkhodjas, El Materis, Sfars, Osmans, Mamis and the Slims. 
  Ahmed Abdelkefi, economist
  Hassan Hosni Abdelwaheb, historian
  Mahmoud Aslan, writer
  Saloua Tarzi Ben Attia, politician
  Al-Husayn I ibn Ali at-Turki, founder of the Husainid Dynasty
  Mohamed Salah Baratli, resistant of the French occupation, opponent of President Bourguiba, human rights activist
  Ahmed Bayram, religious cleric
  M'hammed Bayram, religious cleric
  Mohamed Bayram V, intellectual
  Mohamed Taieb Bayram, religious cleric
  Ahmed Belkhodja, religious cleric
  Asma Belkhodja, pioneer of the Tunisian feminist movement
  M'hammed Belkhodja, politician
  Ali Bach Hamba, journalist and politician
  Mohamed Bach Hamba, writer
  Mahmoud Ben Mahmoud, filmmaker
  Yasemin Besson, wife of Éric Besson
  Lotfi Bouchnak, musician
  Hassen Bouhajeb, doctor
  Mahmoud Bourguiba, journalist
  Ahmed Chérif, doctor
  Béchir Dinguizli, doctor
  Mustapha Dinguizli, politician
  Ali Douagi, literary and cultural icon
  Abderrahman Dziri, medical researcher
  Mustafa Elkatipzade, Fenerbahçe football manager
  Nazli Fadhel, pioneer of the Tunisian feminist movement
  Sadok Ghileb, politician
  Fadhila Khetmi, theatre director
  Afef Jnifen, model and actress
  Mohamed Lahbib, pioneer of theater and television in Tunisia
  Mahmoud El Materi, physician and politician
  Moncef El Materi, former soldier and businessman
  Sakher El Materi, businessman
  Tahar El Materi, businessman
  Habib Osman, photographer
  Mustapha Osman, artist
  Chafia Rochdi, singer and actress
  Hichem Rostom, actor
  Mourad Salem, artist
  Rachid Sfar, former prime minister
  Mongi Slim, nationalist leader and Minister
  Mustapha Kamel Tarzi, diplomat
  Najiya Thamir, writer and radio producer
  Hedi Turki, painter
  Yahia Turki, painter
  Zoubeir Turki, painter
  Abdeljelil Zaouche, Minister of Justice (1936–1943)
  Sadok Zmerli, professor
caption: Yahia Turki was a painter.
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