Circassians in Iraq


Circassians in Iraq are people of North Caucasian origin in Iraq, including Adyghes, Chechens and Dagestanis.
The name "Circassian" usually denotes speakers of only, however in the name may denote in general, including Chechens and Dagestanis, who speak.

History

Iraqis of North Caucasus origin mainly originate from Circassia, Chechnya and Dagestan. tribes which settled in Iraq include: Abkhaz, Adyghes, Kabardin, Shapsugs, Ingush, Chechens, Avars, Lezgins, and Kumyks.
The migration of North Caucasians to Iraq goes back many centuries, peaking during the and in the aftermath of the with the of the 1860s. Adyghes came to Iraq in two waves: directly from Circassia, and later from the Balkans. Chechens and Dagestanis also settled in Iraq throughout the. Circassians also settled in large numbers in other neighbouring countries including Turkey, Syria, Jordan, and Palestine.
Like all Iraqis, Circassians in Iraq faced various hardships in the modern era, as Iraq suffered wars, sanctions,, and civil strife.

Demographics

The overall number of Circassians or people of North Caucasus origin in Iraq is estimated to be between 30,000 and 50,000, however the total number is unknown. It has been reported that there are 30,000 Adyghe families in Baghdad alone. It is understood that many have ethnically assimilated into the Iraqi population, becoming Arabicized or Kurdicized. Chechens may comprise up to of Iraqis of origin.
Surnames such as Al-Daghestani, Al-Shishani, and Al-Sharkas are common among Iraqis of descent.

Population

North Caucasians have settled in all parts of Iraq, from Dohuk in the north to Basrah in the south. The largest communities are in Baghdad, Sulaymaniyah, Diyala, Kirkuk, and Fallujah, with smaller communities in Najaf, Hillah, Mosul, Kut, Basrah, Tikrit, Erbil, Nasiriyah, Diwaniyah, Dohuk, Ramadi, Amarah, and.
There are also several Circassian villages throughout Iraq, including a Chechen neighbourhood in Baghdad.

Culture

North Caucasians in Iraq have integrated into Iraqi society while preserving their traditional culture and customs, such as the Khabze culture. They continue to preserve certain traditions in wedding ceremonies, birth ceremonies, and other special occasions, and to cook their traditional cuisine.
In 2004, the was formed in Kirkuk. This cultural organization seeks to bring together Iraqis of heritage. can be translated as "Solidarity".
North Caucasians in Iraq are predominantly like their ethnic counterparts in other countries. It is possible that a minority may also identify with, the majority faith in Iraq.

Language

North Caucasians in Iraq speak a number of languages, including their native languages of either Adyghe, Chechen, or Lezgin, as well as, Kurdish, or Turkmen. The native languages are mainly spoken by the elder generations, with younger people usually speaking only Arabic or Kurdish, the main Iraqi languages.

South Caucasians

Many peoples of South Caucasus origin have also settled in Iraq, including Armenians and Azerbaijanis. Ethnic Georgians also settled in Iraq historically, and actually through the 18th and early 19th centuries. The Georgians who settled in Iraq were Muslim and ultimately assimilated into the Iraqi population, as a community no longer exists in the country., the from 1932 to 1933 was of Georgian descent.

Notable people