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Klepini is situated on the northern slopes of the Kyrenia range, seven miles east of the town of Kyrenia. It was always a Greek Cypriot dominated small village, though Turkish Cypriots had their own small neighborhood. The village always had two names, the Greek Klepini and Turkish Arapköy. The Greek name means “stolen” or “hidden.” This village may also be the Maronite village of “Cleipiris " mentioned by Dandini in 1596. On the other hand, Turkish Cypriots always called the village Arapköy, meaning “Arab village.” The name probably can be traced to the origins of the village, since it is believed that when the Ottomans arrived in Cyprus, Klepini was inhabited by Arabic-speaking Maronites.

 

 

As can be seen from the chart above, in the Ottoman census of 1831, Christians (Greek Cypriots) constituted almost 75% of the population. Approximately ten years after the beginning of the British administration in the island, this number fell to 71%. However, this percentage gradually increased. In 1960, when the island gained independence, Greek Cypriots constituted almost 88% of the village’s population.

Displacement:

Due to intercommunal strife, in January 1964 some of the Turkish Cypriots fled from the village and took refuge in Kazafani/Ozanköy(229) village. However, in early March 1964 the Greek Cypriot National Guard attacked the Turkish Cypriot quarter of Kazafani(229) village. When a ceasefire was arranged, almost 40% of the Turkish Cypriots left the village, as well as all the displaced persons of Klepini. Many of them were moved to the camps in Ağırdağ(211) and Boghaz(215). However, those Turkish Cypriots of Klepini who did not leave the village in 1964, remained in the village until 1974. After 1968, many of those who left in 1964 also returned to the village.

The displacement of all the Greek Cypriots from this village took place in 1974, when they fled from the advancing Turkish army in July and sought refuge in the south. Currently the Greek Cypriots of Klepini are scattered throughout the island’s south. The number of the Greek Cypriots from this village who were displaced in 1974 was around 175 (173 in 1973).

Current Inhabitants:

Apart from the original Turkish Cypriots of Klepini who returned in 1968 and after 1974, there are Turkish Cypriots from the neighboring village of Trapeza(250) and some Turkish Cypriots from Nicosia who currently reside in Klepini. There are also people from Turkey who settled in the village in the late 1970s. They came from many different parts of Turkey, but the largest number came from the small town of Bozova in southern Turkey. During the last ten years, many European citizens have also bought property and settled in the village. In addition, the village hosts many immigrant workers, mainly from Turkey, who are employed primarily in construction. The 2006 Turkish Cypriot census put the village’s population at 380.  

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Websites:

• http://www.cyprus-village.com/ (for the villages)
• http://news.karpasha.com/
• http://human-rights-archaeology.blogspot.com/
• http://kypros.org/Occupied_Cyprus/ (for the villages in the north)