Mosque of Hala Saltan Tekke, Cyprus

Postcard

Islam was introduced to Cyprus when Uthman the 3rd Caliph conquered in 649. Muslims lived over the whole area of Cyprus but since the1974 events they are now concentrated in Northern Cyprus. Until 1974, Turkish Cypriots (the Muslim community of Cyprus) made up 18% of the whole islands population. Today there are an estimated 264,172 Muslims based in the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus.

The Hala Sultan (Umm Haram) Tekke stands next to the salt lake just south of Larnaca and is one of the first sights you see heading out of the airport.

 

Stamps

From a set of 3 stamps about Tall Ships, Galleon (issued 2011).