 TheNorth Caucasus (in green) andIraq (in red). | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 30,000–50,000 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Baghdad,Sulaymaniyah Diyala,Kirkuk,Anbar,Najaf | |
| Languages | |
| MainlyArabic andKurdish as well as Adyghe,Chechen,Lezgin,Turkmen | |
| Religion | |
| Sunni Islam Shia Islam | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| otherNorth Caucasian peoples |
| Part ofa series on the |
| Circassians Адыгэхэр |
|---|
 List of notable Circassians Circassian genocide |
| Circassian diaspora |
| Circassian tribes |
Surviving Destroyed or barely existing |
| Religion |
| Religion in Circassia |
| Languages and dialects |
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| History |
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| Culture |
| Organizations |
Circassians in Iraq[a] refer to people born in or residing inIraq, that are ofCircassian origin.[1] Like all Iraqis, Circassians in Iraq faced various hardships in the modern era, as Iraq suffered wars, sanctions,oppressive regimes, and civil strife.[1][2]
Iraqis of North Caucasus origin mainly originate fromCircassia.[1] The migration of North Caucasians to Iraq goes back many centuries, peaking in the aftermath of theRussian–Circassian War with theCircassian genocide of the 1860s. The Circassians came to Iraq in two waves: directly fromCircassia, and later from theBalkans.Chechens andDagestanis also settled in Iraq throughout theOttoman era. Circassians also settled in large numbers in other neighbouring countries includingTurkey,Syria,Jordan, andPalestine.[1]
The name "Circassian" usually denotes speakers ofNorthwest Caucasian languages only, however inWestern Asia the name may denoteNorth Caucasus peoples in general,[1] includingChechens andDagestanis, who speakNortheast Caucasian languages.
The overall number of Circassians or people of North Caucasus origin in Iraq is estimated to be between 30,000 and 50,000,[3] however the total number is unknown.[1][2] It has been reported that there are 30,000Adyghe families inBaghdad alone.[1] It is understood that manyNorth Caucasians have ethnically assimilated into the Iraqi population, becoming Arabicized or Kurdicized.[1]
Surnames such asAl-Daghestani,Al-Shishani ("Chechen"), andAl-Sharkas ("Circassian") are common among Iraqis ofNorth Caucasian descent.
North Caucasians have settled in all parts of Iraq, fromDuhok in the north toBasrah in the south.[1] The largest communities are inBaghdad,Sulaymaniyah,Diyala,Kirkuk, andFallujah, with smaller communities inNajaf,Hillah,Mosul,Kut,Basrah,Tikrit,Erbil,Nasiriyah,Diwaniyah, Duhok,Ramadi,Amarah, andTuz Khormato.[1]
There are also several Circassian villages throughout Iraq, including a neighbourhood inBaghdad.[1]
North Caucasians in Iraq have integrated into Iraqi society while preserving their traditional culture and customs, such as theAdyghe Xabze. They continue to preserve certain traditions in wedding ceremonies, birth ceremonies, and other special occasions, and to cook their traditional cuisine.[1]
In 2004, the Al-Tadamun Society of Iraqi, Chechen, Dagestani and Circassian Tribes was formed inKirkuk. This cultural organization seeks to bring together Iraqis ofNorth Caucasian heritage.[1]"Al-Tadamun" can be translated as "Solidarity".
North Caucasians in Iraq are predominantlySunni Muslim like their ethnic counterparts in other countries. It is possible that a minority may also identify withShia Islam, the majority faith in Iraq.
North Caucasians in Iraq speak a number of languages, including their native languages of eitherAdyghe,Chechen, orLezgin, as well asMesopotamian Arabic,Kurdish, orTurkmen.[1] The native languages are mainly spoken by the elder generations, with younger people usually speaking only Arabic or Kurdish, the main Iraqi languages.[1]
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