The following is a list of notable French Turks, including both original immigrants of full or partial Turkish descent who obtained French citizenship and their French descendants. Most notable French Turks have come from, or originate from,

Turkey Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a list of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolia, Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with ...

but there are also notable French people of Turkish origin who have immigrated from, or descend from, the other former Ottoman territories, especially Turks from the

North Africa North Africa, or Northern Africa is a region encompassing the northern portion of the African continent. There is no singularly accepted scope for the region, and it is sometimes defined as stretching from the Atlantic shores of Mauritania in ...

and the

Levant The Levant () is an approximate historical geographical term referring to a large area in the Eastern Mediterranean region of Western Asia. In its narrowest sense, which is in use today in archaeology and other cultural contexts, it is eq ...

Academia

*Dr Ipek Yalcin Christmann, neurobiologist in charge of research at the French National Centre for Scientific Research *Dr Serdar Dalkılıç, founder of the National Union of Hospital Practitioners (SNPAC) and President of the Franco-Turkish Health Foundation * Erol Gelenbe, Professor of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at

Imperial College Imperial College London (legally Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine) is a public research university in London, United Kingdom. Its history began with Prince Albert, consort of Queen Victoria, who developed his vision for a cu ...

Nilüfer Göle Nilüfer Göle (born 1953) is a Turkish sociologist and a contemporary Turkish academic who specializes in the political movement of today's educated, urbanized, and religious Muslim women. From 1986 to 2001 a professor at the Boğaziçi University ...

, Professor of Sociology at the

École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales The School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences (french: École des hautes études en sciences sociales; EHESS) is a graduate ''grande école'' and ''grand établissement'' in Paris focused on academic research in the social sciences. The ...

; * Doğan Kuban, Professor of Ottoman Architecture and History at Istanbul Technical University * Farouk Mardam-Bey, director of the Arab world collections at the French publishing house Actes Sud ( Turkish Syrian origin, from the Mardam Bey family) *

Pınar Selek Pınar Selek (born October 8, 1971) is a Turkish sociologist, feminist, and author. She is known for her work on the rights of vulnerable communities in Turkey, including women, the poor, street children, sexual minorities, and Kurdish communit ...

, sociologist and feminist * Nora Şeni, Professor of History at the

Institut français de géopolitique An institute is an organisational body created for a certain purpose. They are often research organisations (research institutes) created to do research on specific topics, or can also be a professional body. In some countries, institutes can ...

; * Semih Vaner, founder and president of the "French Association for the Study of the Eastern Mediterranean and the Turkish-Iranian World" (AFEMOTI), Director of the "Study Group on Contemporary Turkey and Iran (ERTCI)", and Director of "Study notebooks on the Eastern Mediterranean and the Turkish-Iranian world" (CEMOTI).

Arts and literature

* Leïla Chellabi, writer (Morocco-born to a Turkish-Algerian father) * Salih Coskun, sculptor and painter * Gürkan Coşkun, painter * Abidin Dino, painter * Ramize Erer, cartoonist and painter * Vénus Khoury-Ghata, poet and writer ( Turkish-Lebanese origin) * Yasmine Ghata writer ( Turkish-Lebanese origin) *

Nedim Gürsel Nedim Gürsel (born 5 April 1951 in Gaziantep) is a Turkish writer. In the late 1960s, he published novellas and essays in Turkish magazines. After graduating from Galatasaray High School in 1970, he studied at the Sorbonne. In 1974, he graduated ...

, novelist who teaches contemporary Turkish literature at the Sorbonne * Mahir Guven, novelist (Turkish mother) *

Mustapha Haciane Mustapha Haciane, also spelt as Mustafa Haciane, (born in 1935) is an Algerian novelist, playwright, and poet. His publications often tackle social issues. Biography Mustapha Haciane was born in 1935, in Rouiba, Algeria, into a family of Turki ...

, writer ( Turkish-Algerian origin). * Uğur Hüküm, journalist * Reha Hutin, American-born journalist and President of the ''

30 millions d'amis 30 millions d'amis (English: "30 million friends") is a French television program, a French monthly magazine with its posters, and a French foundation: the Fondation 30 Millions d'Amis. All three focus on pets, especially cats, dogs, horses, ferret ...

'' foundation * Seyhan Kurt, poet, writer, anthropologist and sociologist *

Amin Maalouf Amin Maalouf (; ar, أمين معلوف; born 25 February 1949) is a Lebanese-born French"Amin ...

, author (Lebanese-born to a Turkish-Egyptian mother) * Nihal Martli, painter * Kenizé Mourad, novelist who descends from the exiled Ottoman royal family * Yaman Okur, dancer *

Mourad Salem Mourad Salem is a Tunisian artist based in Paris, France. His works question historical leaders, often depicting them as immature power-hungry figures. In 2013, Salem's exhibition "Sultans Are No Sultans" debuted at the Nour Festival of Arts from ...

, artist ( Turkish-Tunisian origin) *

Fikret Mualla Saygı Fikret Muallâ Saygı (July 20, 1903 in Kadıköy, Istanbul, Ottoman Empire – July 20, 1967, in Reillanne, France) was a 20th-century avant-garde painter of Turkish descent. His work reflects influences from Expressionism and Fauvism, with subje ...

, painter *

Leïla Sebbar Leïla Sebbar (born 1941) is a French-Algerian author. Early life Leïla Sebbar was born on 9 November 1941, in Aflou. The daughter of a French mother and an Algerian father, she spent her youth in French Algeria before leaving aged seventeen fo ...

, writer ( Turkish-Algerian through her grandmother) * Elif Shafak, novelist who was awarded the

Ordre des Arts et des Lettres The ''Ordre des Arts et des Lettres'' (Order of Arts and Letters) is an order of France established on 2 May 1957 by the Minister of Culture. Its supplementary status to the was confirmed by President Charles de Gaulle in 1963. Its purpose is ...

in 2010 *

Nil Yalter Nil Yalter (born 1938) is a Turkish contemporary feminist artist. She attended Robert College in Istanbul, Turkey and currently lives and works in Paris. Her work, which is included in many collections and museums, includes not only drawings and ...

, contemporary feminist artist ( Turkish-Egyptian origin)

Business

Ali Bourequat Ali Bourequat is a successful Moroccan/Tunisian businessman who was secretly arrested and incarcerated for years by the Moroccan government in the infamous secret prison Tazmamart.Alain Brossat, Jean-Louis Déotte, ''La mort dissoute: disparitio ...

, businessman (Moroccan-born to a Turkish-Tunisian father) *

Emad Khashoggi Emad Khashoggi ( ar, عماد خاشقجي, born 25 March 1968) is a French-Saudi businessman and the head of COGEMAD. He initiated the Château Louis XIV development project in Louveciennes, France. Biography Emad Khashoggi was born in Leban ...

, businessman who initiated the

Château Louis XIV The Château Louis XIV is a château constructed between 2008 and 2011 in the commune of Louveciennes in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France region. The chateau was built by the property developer Emad Khashoggi's property development ...

development project (Lebanese-born into the Saudi-Turkish

Khashoggi family Khashoggi ( ar, خاشقجي, Ḵāšuqjī) is an Arabic surname of Turkish origin (from , "spoonmaker"). Notable people with the surname include: * Adnan Khashoggi (1935–2017), Saudi businessman, son of Muhammad Khashoggi * Emad Khashoggi (bor ...

) *

Gökşin Sipahioğlu Gökşin Sipahioğlu (28 December 19265 October 2011) was a Turkish photographer and journalist who founded the Paris-based photo agency Sipa Press. He spent most of his life in Paris where the French media dubbed him "le Grand Turc". He also help ...

, photographer who founded the Paris-based photo agency

Sipa Press Sipa Press is a French photo agency based in Paris. Overview It was founded 1973 by the Turkish newsphotographer and photojournalist Gökşin Sipahioğlu together with American writer Phyllis Springer, concentrating their activities from the beg ...

* Selçuk Yilmaz, businessman and co-owner of the French clothing brand '' Naf Naf'' * Seyfi Yılmaz, businessman and co-owner of the French clothing brand '' Naf Naf''

Fashion and design

* Ayşe Ege, co-founded the Paris-based high fashion brand ''

Dice Kayek Dice Kayek is a Paris-based high fashion brand founded by the Turkish sisters Ece and Ayşe Ege in 1992. Ece Ege is the creative director of the brand and Ayşe Ege is the manager of the company. Background In 1992, Esmod Paris graduate Ece E ...

'' *

Ece Ege Ece Ege (born 1963 in Bursa, Turkey) is a Turkish-French fashion designer and founder of the prêt-à-porter line ''DICE KAYEK''. Career For her first collection in 1991, Ege created 13 shirts in white poplin Poplin, also called tabin ...

, co-founded the Paris-based high fashion brand ''

'' * Ali Suna, model and creator of the brand Divercityz * Yasemin Tordjman, fashion stylist and former wife of

Éric Besson Éric Besson (born 2 April 1958 in Marrakesh) is a French politician and businessman. From 2009 to 2010, he was the Minister of Immigration, Integration, National Identity and Co-Development in the government of François Fillon. He left the So ...

( Turkish-Tunisian through her paternal grandfather)

Film and television

Isabelle Adjani Isabelle Yasmina Adjani ; born 27 June 1955) is a French actress and singer of Algerian and German descent. She is the only performer in history to win five César Awards for acting; she won the Best Actress award for ''Possession'' (1981), ''O ...

, actress ( Turkish-Algerian father) *

Muratt Atik Muratt Atik is a French-Turkish-English speaking actor and producer. Atik has been nominated for several awards as a French personality and in 2008 won personality of the year at the Trophées de la Nuit also in 2014 he won outstanding contributio ...

, actor * Anaïs Baydemir weather presenter on France 2 and France 3 *

Ergün Demir Ergün Demir (born 10 December 1969) is a Turkish actor and musician. He became popular in Eastern Europe and South America after his role as Ali Kemal Evliyaoğlu in the Turkish television series ''Binbir Gece''. Ergün Demir was born in Tepe ...

, actor *

Cansel Elçin Cansel Elçin (born September 20, 1973) is a Turkish actor. Biography Cansel Elçin was born on September 20, 1973, in İzmir, Turkey, but his family moved to France when he was 9 years old. Elcin grew up trilingually and can speak French, ...

, actor *

Deniz Gamze Ergüven Deniz Gamze Ergüven (born 4 June 1978), is a Turkish-French film director best known for her debut feature film ''Mustang''. Early life and education Ergüven was born in Ankara, Turkey but moved to France in the 1980s. She grew up and went to ...

, film director * Ramin Matin, film director

Music

* Armande Altaï, singer (Turkish mother from Syria) *

Deniz Arman Gelenbe Deniz may refer to: * Deniz (given name), Turkish given name * Deniz (surname) Déniz or Deniz (also written Denis in some parts of South America, see Denis) is a Spanish-Portuguese surname derived from the French surname De Niz. Deniz, although ...

, pianist and Professor at the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance * Gülseren, singer who represented Turkey at the Eurovision Song Contest 2005 * Anil Eraslan, cellist * Mennel Ibtissem, singer and former contestant on '' The Voice France'' ( Turkish-Syrian father) * Yilmaz Karaman (Lil maaz), rapper *

MRC MRC may refer to Government * Medical Research Council (United Kingdom) * Medical Reserve Corps, a US network of volunteer organizations * Municipalité régionale de comté (regional county municipality), Quebec, Canada * Military Revolutionar ...

, rapper * Faik Sardag, musician * Anne Sila, singer * Serâ Tokay, first conductor of Turkish origin to give a concert at the

Carnegie Hall Carnegie Hall ( ) is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City. It is at 881 Seventh Avenue (Manhattan), Seventh Avenue, occupying the east side of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street (Manhattan), 56th and 57th Street (Manhatta ...

* Master Turc, singer

Politics

Chérif Sid Cara Dr. Chérif Sid-Cara or Chérif Sidkara. (26 November, 1902, in Mila, Algeria - 6 March, 1999, Grenoble, France) was an Algerian medical doctor and a politician in the French Fourth Republic. He was one of the leading Muslim political figures in ...

, politician and doctor ( Turkish-Algerian origin). *

Nafissa Sid Cara Nafissa Sid-Cara or Nafissa Sidkara. (18 April 1910, in El Eulma, Algeria - 1 January 2002, Paris, France) was a French politician. Sid-Cara was the first female minister to serve in the French Fifth Republic as well as the first ever Algerian ori ...

, the first female minister to serve in the French Fifth Republic as well as the first ever

Muslim Muslims ( ar, المسلمون, , ) are people who adhere to Islam, a monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God of Abrah ...

woman to serve as a minister in a French government ( Turkish-Algerian origin) *

Agnès Evren Agnès Evren (born 27 December 1970) is a French politician of the Republicans (LR) who was elected as a Member of the European Parliament in 2019. Political career Career in national politics Evren served as Valérie Pécresse’s spokesperso ...

, elected as a

Member of the European Parliament A Member of the European Parliament (MEP) is a person who has been elected to serve as a popular representative in the European Parliament. When the European Parliament (then known as the Common Assembly of the ECSC) first met in 1952, its ...

in the 2019 election in France, * Mourad Kaouah, served as the deputy of

Algiers Algiers ( ; ar, الجزائر, al-Jazāʾir; ber, Dzayer, script=Latn; french: Alger, ) is the capital and largest city of Algeria. The city's population at the 2008 Census was 2,988,145Census 14 April 2008: Office National des Statistiques ...

from 1958 to 1962 ( Turkish-Algerian origin) * Kaddour Sator, Deputy of

Constantine Constantine most often refers to: * Constantine the Great, Roman emperor from 306 to 337, also known as Constantine I * Constantine, Algeria, a city in Algeria Constantine may also refer to: People * Constantine (name), a masculine given na ...

in 1946 ( Turkish-Algerian origin) * Metin Yavuz, elected mayor of

Valenton Valenton () is a commune in the southeastern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris. It extends over of which are green spaces. The most important public green space is the Plage Bleue Park where different events are ...

in 2020

Religion

* Ahmet Ogras, the first French-Turk to become President of the

French Council of the Muslim Faith The French Council of the Muslim Faith (french: Conseil français du culte musulman, usually abbreviated to CFCM), is a national elected body, to serve as an official interlocutor with the French state in the regulation of Muslim religious activi ...

in 2017

Sports

Patrick Abada Patrick Abada (born 20 March 1954 in Paris) is a retired French pole vaulter and Olympian, having competed in the 1976 Summer Olympics. His best vault was one of 5.70 m, made on 26 August 1983, in Brussels Brussels (french: Bruxelles or ; ...

, pole vaulter and Olympian ( Turkish-Algerian origin) *

Emre Akbaba Emre Akbaba (born 4 October 1992) is a Turkish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for the Turkish club Adana Demirspor in the Süper Lig. Club career Galatasaray 2018–19 season In the statement made by Galatasaray on 18 August ...

, football player * Aksel Aktas, football player * Osman Aktas, boxer *

Kubilay Aktaş Kubilay Aktaş (born 29 January 1995) is a Turkish footballer who plays as a midfielder for Adanaspor. Club career He made his Süper Lig debut on 6 October 2013. International career Aktaş represented Turkish national under-19 team at the 2 ...

, football player * Mikail Albayrak, football player * Selen Altunkulak, female football player *

Fatih Atik Fatih Atik (born 25 February 1984) is a French professional footballer. He most recently played as a midfielder for the Turkish TFF First League side Giresunspor. Career On 16 April 2014, Atik scored an extra-time goal in the semi-final which h ...

, football player *

Numan Bostan Numan Bostan Soysal (born 31 January 1998 in France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americ ...

, football player * Lucie Bouthors, female basketball player (Turkish mother) * Umut Bozok, football player * Ozkan Cetiner, football player *

İbrahim Dağaşan İbrahim Dağaşan (born 15 June 1984) is a Turkish professional footballer. He plays as a midfielder A midfielder is an outfield position in association football. Midfielders may play an exclusively defensive role, breaking up attack ...

. football player *

Mustafa Durak Mustapha Durak (born 13 August 1988) is a French professional footballer who plays as a right winger for Turkish club Şanlıurfaspor. He is of Turkish descent. Career He started his career in the reserve team at his hometown club Strasbourg be ...

, football player *

Mevlüt Erdinç Mevlüt Erdinç (surname spelt Erding in France; born 25 February 1987) is a former professional footballer who played as a forward. Born in France to Turkish parents, he spent most of his career in his country of birth, recording 295 games and ...

, football player * Ayhan Güçlü, football player * Metehan Güçlü, football player * Ender Günlü, football player *

Serdar Gürler Serdar Gürler (born 14 September 1991) is a professional footballer who plays as a right winger or forward for İstanbul Başakşehir. Born in France, he represents Turkey at international level. Career Gürler plays as an attacking midfielder ...

, football player *

Selim Ilgaz Selim Ilgaz (born 22 June 1995) is a French professional footballer who plays as a winger for TFF Second League club Iğdır. Career Ilgaz is a youth product of his local side, and joined the youth academy of Sochaux. After training with the ...

, football player *

Burak Kardeş Burak Kardeş (born 22 March 1994) is a professional footballer who plays for KVK Wellen. Born in Belgium, he represented Turkey at all international youth levels up to under-21. He made his professional debut as Jong PSV player in the Dutch Eers ...

, football player *

İpek Kaya İpek Kaya (born 28 October 1994) is a footballer who plays as a defender for Division 1 Féminine club Soyaux. Born in France, she represents Turkey at international level. Early years She was born to Turkish immigrant parents in L'Aigle, Orn ...

, female football player * Samed Kılıç, football player * Özer Özdemir, football player *

Sinan Özkan Sinan Özkan (born 22 March 1986) is a Turkish footballer who plays for Serik Belediyespor. Career Born in Saint-Étienne, Özkan began his career playing youth football for the French team AS Saint-Étienne. He moved to Turkey and played for ...

, football player *

Hakan Özmert Hakan Özmert (born 3 June 1985) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Süper Lig club Antalyaspor. Born in France, he represents Turkey internationally. Club career Özmert began his professional career with Sakaryaspor, an ...

, football player * Fatih Öztürk, football player *

Yusuf Sari Yusuf ( ar, يوسف ') is a male name of Arabic origin meaning "God increases" (in piety, power and influence).From the Hebrew יהוה להוסיף ''YHWH Lhosif'' meaning "YHWH will increase/add". It is the Arabic equivalent of the Hebrew name ...

, football player * Benjamin Stambouli, football player ( Turkish-Algerian through his great-grandfather).. *

Henri Stambouli Henri Stambouli (born 5 August 1961) is a French former football player and a current manager. Coaching career Stambouli coached Marseille and Sedan in France. He managed the Togo national football team, leaving the position in September 200 ...

, football player ( Turkish-Algerian through his grandfather) * Servan Taştan, football player *

Atila Turan Atila Turan (born 10 April 1992) is a professional footballer who plays for Turkish TFF Second League club Kocaelispor. Born in France, he represents the Turkey national team internationally, having played for France at youth international leve ...

, football player * Kendal Ucar, football player * Sabahattin Usta, football player * Serkan Yanık football player

Other

* Prince Mukarram Jah, French-born Head of the House of

Nizam of Hyderabad The Nizams were the rulers of Hyderabad from the 18th through the 20th century. Nizam of Hyderabad (Niẓām ul-Mulk, also known as Asaf Jah) was the title of the monarch of the Hyderabad State ( divided between the state of Telangana, Mar ...

(Turkish mother) *

Princess Niloufer Princess is a regal rank and the feminine equivalent of prince (from Latin ''princeps'', meaning principal citizen). Most often, the term has been used for the consort of a prince, or for the daughter of a king or prince. Princess as a subst ...

, Ottoman princess * Marie Tepe, vivandière who fought for the Union army during the American Civil War

References

{{Reflist French people of Turkish descent

French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

Turkish Turkish may refer to: *a Turkic language spoken by the Turks * of or about Turkey ** Turkish language *** Turkish alphabet ** Turkish people, a Turkic ethnic group and nation *** Turkish citizen, a citizen of Turkey *** Turkish communities and mi ...

Turkish French people

Academia

Arts and literature

Business

Fashion and design

Film and television

Music

Politics

Religion

Sports

Other

See also

References