Cyprus hosts Ottoman Traces photography exhibition

The “Ottoman Traces in Cyprus” photography exhibition has opened at the Bahçeşehir Cyprus University Alayköy campus. The exhibition is a collaborative effort involving the Osmanlar Foundation, the Dr. Fuat Sezgin Islamic Science History Research Foundation (IBTAV), and the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

The collection features approximately 92 historical photographs compiled from the glass negative archives of Hacı Ali Rıfat Efendi, the last Ottoman qadi of Cyprus, and his son, Ahmet Burhaneddin Kadızâde. These images, which were digitized by Bahçeşehir Cyprus University, document the social and cultural life, architecture, streets, and daily routines of the island during the Ottoman era.

University Rector Prof. Dr. Mehmet Toycan emphasized the importance of such archives in preserving social memory and cultural heritage. Mert Osmanlar, Deputy Chairman of the Osmanlar Foundation, noted the collection's ability to create a connection between generations. Prof. Dr. Selim Argun, President of the Yunus Emre Institute, expressed goals to bring the exhibition to wider international audiences.