IRAK ÇERKESLERİ - orsam

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ORSAM CENTER FOR MIDDLE EASTERN STRATEGIC STUDIES Circassians strived to redefine their identity in Iraq, which was reshaped after 2003, and accordingly, they aimed at establishing an organized structure. Chechens, Dagestanis and Adyghes living in Iraq established Al-Tadamun society aiming at gathering under a single roof in 2004. “Tadamun” means “to hang on”, and the word indicates the North Caucasians’ relations by affinity in Iraq. The headquarter of the society is located in Kirkuk. However, they also have representative offices in Baghdad, Mosul, Tikrit, Diyala and Anbar. The majority of the members of society are from Kirkuk and Baghdad. The number of women among the Al-Tadamun Society constitute approximately 30 per cent of the members. The rate of the young is approximately 40 per cent. The society has some 400 members. Most of the members have associate’s or bachelor’s degree. In addition, there are also high-school graduates, civil servants working in government offices, doctors, engineers, teachers, tradesman and self-employed among the members. Members of Al-Tadamun Society The society could organize activities only at a limited level due to its limited means and the instability and security problems in Iraq. It would be good to briefly mention those activities. - The members of society paid a visit to Maykop, capital of the Republic of Adyghe located in the Northwestern Caucasus in the Russian Federation. Within the scope of the visit, an agreement was signed on education and a quota was reserved for Iraqi Circassians who want to study in Adyghe. Within this framework, 4 Iraqi Circassian students study in the Russian Federation through means of the society. 18 ORSAM Report No: 134, November 2012
IRAQI CIRCASSIANS (Chechens, Dagestanis, Adyghes) ORSAM - The society organized its second congress in Kirkuk. - Training courses were organized to contribute to development of the society members. In the aforesaid courses, the participants were informed about the native language, history and culture. The Khabze culture, which is the national tradition of Adyghes, was strived to be taught. - Besides the financial support provided during the Ramadan months, Circassian families and also the families from other ethnic and religious groups with low-income are provided with food and financial support. - In some schools, stationery and clothing support is provided for orphan children. - The members of Al-Tadamun paid visits to the Circassian Charity Association in Jordan and also the Circassian Charity Association in Syria. In Turkey, they visited North Caucasian associations and federations in İstanbul, Ankara, Kayseri and Düzce. There was a participation in conferences and workshops in places they visited. On the other hand, in order to teach Adyghe language, the society has been planning to open courses in Kirkuk. Particularly in Kirkuk, the society has been striving to develop relations among the Turkmen, Arab, Kurdish and Christian groups. 5. Conclusion The Circassians, who were settled in current Iraqi territories during the period of Ottoman Empire, went through the same fate in Iraq as they did in almost every other place they settled in, and they were exposed to the same oppression and assimilation policies by the current authoritarian regimes as they were considered as a part of the Ottoman Empire. Despite these policies, Circassians contributed to the countries they lived in to a great extent. As a result of the local forces’ struggle for power after 2003, the oppression policies in the Saddam Hussein turned into the pressure of local forces. Besides, the ethnical, religious and sectarian polarization prevailing in Iraq became influential. Striving to introduce their identities again today, Iraqi Circassians have been trying to turn it into an organized structure through this society they established in 2004. However, it is hard to suggest that Circassians in Iraq aer regarded as a different identity. In fact, they have been deprived of the rights of other minorities (for instance, the quote in the Iraqi Parliament or provincial councils), and they do not have opportunity to contribute to preserving cultural rights such as education in their native language. Considering the unstable structure in Iraq, it is obvious that Iraqi Circassians have been going through hard times to preserve their identity. Nevertheless, it is believed that in order to reinforce the democracy in Iraq, it is required to fairly recognize the communities preserving their own language, social structure and culture. ORSAM Report No: 134, November 2012 19
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