IRAK ÇERKESLERİ - orsam

IRAQI CIRCASSIANS (Chechens, Dagestanis, Adyghes)
ORSAM
3.3. Timur Ali Beg
He was born in Arshet, in Chechenya. After
he immigrated to Turkey with his father, he
lived together with his close friend and his
son-in-law Dagestani Mohammad Fazıl Pasha
in Baghdad. Then, Ali Beg who settled
in Leklek village of Tikrit in Iraq took part in
military operations along with Dagestani Mohammad
Fazıl Pasha against the invasion of
the Britain. Ali Beg, who died on 24 August
1921, was buried in Imam Azam Cemetery
in Baghdad. His sons Mohammad Kamil and
Mustafa Necip settled in Chechen village in
Havije district of Kirkuk.
4. Iraqi Circassians’ Struggle For Existence:
Al-Tadamun Society of Iraqi, Chechen,
Dagestani and Circassian Tribes
3.4. Safa Shemseddin Halis
The Emblem of Al-Tadamun Society 21
He was born in Chechen village of Diyala in
1942. He joined the military school in 1962.
Halis, who was sent to England, France and
Germany to take specialty courses, served in
certain administrative positions (mission supervisor,
fleet supervisor etc.), and then he wa
appointed as a commander in Iraqi Air Forces
in 1993. Halis, who translated some Russian
novels and stories telling the life in North
Caucasus as well as fight for freedom from
English into Arabic, published some of his
translations in Al-Tadamun magazine. Halis
was killed by some unidentified armed people
in Baghdad in 2007.
The financial situation of Circassians is generally
at a medium or high level. However, they
are threatened especially by Shia militias in
terms of security. For instance, a Circassian
village was completely destroyed in Diyala region,
and approximately 25 families were exiled.
It is known that Circassians were applied
oppression policies by majority groups with
power and control they obtained after 2003,
as well as the pressure of Saddam Hussein
regime. In such an environment, Circassians
strive to preserve and maintain their ethnic
identity as a minority in Iraq.
ORSAM
Report No: 134, November 2012 17