Turkish Gypsies
Turkish Roma are Turkish speaking Muslim Roma (Xoraxane) who have adopted Turkish culture, language and identity over the centuries. It is believed that, in many cases, they did so to elevate their social status, they cannot openly state that they are Roma due to fear of discrimination. They have always been allowed to live in Turkish communities, but face discrimination. While Christian Romani (Desikane) do not consider them as part of their community. They are cultural Muslims who adopted Sunni Islam of Hanafi madhab at the time of the Anatolian Seljuk Sultanate and Ottoman Empire.
Their legendary leader was Mansur ibn Yakub Han, called Çingene Han. He built his Kervansaray in Malatya in 1224. Today it can still be seen as a ruin. Mansur bin Yakup Han is buried in the Ulu Mosque in Malatya.
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