Circassians in Syria

rdf:langString Circassians in Syria

rdf:langString Circassians in Syria

rdf:langString Mostly Arabic and Circassian languages

rdf:langString Smaller numbers also speak Abkhaz

rdf:langString The liberation of Damascus from the Axis powers, 1941. Allied forces are escorted by Circassian cavalry volunteers.

rdf:langString Circassians in Syria

rdf:langString Сирием ис Адыгэхэр

rdf:langString الشركس في سوريا

rdf:langString Quneitra Governorate, Damascus, Aleppo area , smaller communities in the areas of Homs and Hama

rdf:langString The Circassians in Syria (Circassian: Сирием ис Адыгэхэр; Arabic: الشركس في سوريا) refers to the Circassian diaspora settled in Syria (then part of the Ottoman Empire) in the 19th century. They moved to Syria after the Circassian genocide following the Russo-Circassian War. While they have become an increasingly assimilated part of Syrian society, they have maintained a distinct identity, having retained their Adyghe language (in addition to Arabic), their tribal heritage and some of their traditional customs. Prior to the Civil War in Syria, the Circassian population was estimated to be around 100,000 . Since the decade long conflict began in 2011, the predominantly Sunni Muslim population of ethnic Circassians in Syria has dwindled. Many of Syria's ethnic Circassians have left the country and have repatriated or are in the process of repatriation to the titular Circassian parts of North Caucasia, in particular Adygea, Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachay-Cherkessia, as well as to partially recognised Republic of Abkhazia. In 2018 Professor John Shoup said that the Circassian population in Syria formed about 1% of the country's total population, making them the sixth largest ethnic group in the country.