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Istinjo is a village of the western Troodos foothills, located twelve kilometers southeast of Polis and one kilometer southeast of Zacharia. The origin of the name is obscure, although Goodwin claims that the name derived from “eis ton kion” (to Kios’ house). In 1958 Turkish Cypriots adopted the alternative name Tabanlı, literally meaning “with base” or “with floor,” though the reasons for their choosing this name are unknown. 

 

As may be seen from the above chart, Istinjo was a Turkish Cypriot village from the Ottoman period. During the British period, the population of the village increased from 166 in 1891 to 220 in 1946. However there was a significant drop (to 155) recorded in 1960.

Displacement:

No one was displaced from this village either during the emergency years of the 1950s, or during the intercommunal strife of 1963-64. However, Istinjo was a Turkish Cypriot enclave with Turkish Cypriot Fighters guarding it, and the village served as a reception center for some displaced Turkish Cypriot families who had fled the village of Asprogia/Aktepe(296). Most of the displaced persons stayed there until 1975. Richard Patrick recorded only 7 displaced persons living in Istinjo/Tabanlı in 1971, and he also noted that the total population of the village in that year was 145.

In response to the Turkish military offensive of 20 July 1974, on 25 July the village was put under siege but not attacked by Greek Cypriot forces. When the Turkish Cypriot Fighters surrendered their guns, the siege was lifted. Meanwhile, most of the inhabitants had begun to flee the village secretly over the mountains to the northern part of the divide. By the time the Vienna agreement was signed almost 50 persons had already made their way to the north. On 5 September 1975, the remaining 99 persons were evacuated under the escort of UNFICYP to the northern part of the divide. Most of them were resettled in Nicosia, Palaikythro/Balıkesir(081), Trachoni/Demirhan(099) and Neo Chorio/Minareliköy(073). The number of Istinjo/Tabanlı Turkish Cypriots who were displaced after 1974 was around 160 (155 in 1960).

Current Inhabitants:

Currently the village is empty and in ruins.   

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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)