IRAK ÇERKESLERİ - orsam

Presentation
North Caucasians or commonly known as Circassians were exiled from their hometown North Caucasus
by the Tsardom of Russia as of 21 May 1864, in the aftermath of the Russian-Caucasus War.
As a part of the settlement process in the Ottoman Empire, they were settled in current Iraq as of
1864. The Circassian migration into current Iraqi territories continued until the early 1920. In the
last period of the Ottoman Empire and during the first years of Iraq’s independence, Circassians
who were influential in social, cultural and political life of Iraq is currently an overshadowed part
of the Iraqi society. The Ottoman Empire made use of the uncultivated lands thanks to Circassians,
who had higher agricultural techniques compared to the local people. The Empire also benefited
from Circassians, who had strong military tradition, against the rising independence movements.
In addition, Circassians increased the Muslim population within the Ottoman Empire. The settlement
of Circassians in Iraq took place in two stages: Directly from Northwestern Caucasus, and
from Balkans. Circassian migrants contributed to the economic development of the regions they
were settled in Iraq. They started to produce more developed agricultural implements and double
massive wooden wheeled and iron hooped wagons, and build stone houses and mills. They implemented
developed traditional agricultural techniques to a large extent, and they grew new plants
such as millet and oat. They also brought along a great order in household appliances (use of iron,
sewing machine, and eating at the table) from North Caucasus. Besides they were hardworking.
They cleaned their fields from stones. So that almost all of them reached a standard of living that
might be considered as wealthy.
The North Caucasians settled in current Iraq were Chechens, Dagestanis, and Adyghes. The aforesaid
families were settled in Kirkuk, Diyala, Baghdad, Mosul and Fallujah. Besides, families coming
from North and South Dagestan were settled in Duhok, Erbil and Sulaymaniyah. In addition, there
were bureaucrats, commanders and military families who joined the Ottoman army and did not
leave Iraq even after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. The Chechen people in Fishabur firstly
settled on the left side of the Tigris River right across Tikrit, after passing through Mosul. Afterwards,
they passed to other areas. Therefore, the area where Chechens lived together in Baghdad
was called “Chechen Neighborhood”. The predictions on those who came from North Caucasus
to Iraq show difference to a considerable extent. There is no accurate census results. In the light
of this information, it might be suggested that 10 thousand people were settled in the area. Today,
on the other hand, this population is claimed to be composed of 2 thousand, 15 thousand and 30
thousand people. We should also take into consideration that a substantial amount of this population
were Arabized, Kurdified and Turkmenized. Currently, the aforementioned population lives in
Duhok, eastern Zaho, southern Erbil, Kirkuk, Tuz Khourmatu, Diyala, Fallujah and Sulaymaniyah.
In addition, there are hundreds of families dispersed across various cities of Iraq. Approximately
500 Chechen, Dagestani and Adyghe families live in Baghdad. In Iraq, North Caucasians continue
to preserve certain North Caucasian traditions in their wedding ceremonies, birth and some other
special days; and to cook their traditional food. Circassians, who were exposed to great pressure
by the Baghdad administration during Saddam period as an extension of the Ottoman Empire and
Turkey, started to create democratic organizations without any support from the government following
the 2003 Iraqi invasion of the U.S. Within this scope, Al-Tadamun Society of Iraqi, Chechen,
Dagestani and Circassian Tribes was established in 2004, and they started to publish the magazine
called Al-Tadamun. The headquarter of the aforesaid society is located in Kirkuk.
ORSAM has come to the fore in the public opinion in a short period of time through the field
studies especially carried out on Iraq, as well as the reports, magazines and articles it published.
ORSAM has been trying to facilitate establishing dialogues between the parties and to contribute
developing the concepts of reconciliation and cooperation without getting involved in polarized
axes among the local communities, especially during the studies carried out. While the process Iraq
went through after 2003 was defined as a democracy process for some, and as disintegration process
for others; we avoid such definitions in studies we carry out as ORSAM. While ORSAM reports
aim at Iraq’s being understood better, those reports also aim at being the voice to groups forgotten
and unheard within the natural structure of Iraq. This study is also one of ORSAM’s studies on Iraq.
Having a deep-rooted history in Iraq, Iraqi Circassians are currently seeking their identity again
and they strive to preserve their existence. I hope this report would be useful for those who are
interested in the subject. Sincerely.
Hasan KANBOLAT
ORSAM Director
4
ORSAM
Report No: 134, November 2012