A Turkish Cypriot man reads the Koran during Ramzan at Selimiye mosque in northern Nicosia, in the Turkish-occupied north of Cyprus.

140,000 Turkish Cypriots live in northern Cyprus according to a 2006 census although the regional government puts the figure much higher. Turks have been on this island since the time the Ottomans occupied it in the 16th century or perhaps longer. Turkish Cypriots have traditions and a culture quite different from the Greek Cypriots and speak a special dialect -- Cypriot Turkish.

The morning suhur meal in northern Cyprus usually consists of dates, porridge, traditional Bitta bread, soup and fruit. Iftaar -- when Turkish Cypriot families make a point to eat together -- could be lentil soup, fried eggs with minced meat, vegetable stews, chicken and potatoes, lamb chops, channa or perhaps cake but Kadayif is a festival favourite -- vermicelli layered with cheese and served hot with syrup, cream and pistachios and/or walnuts. Photographs: Henghameh Fahimi/AFP/Getty Images