Abkhazians in Syria are the Abkhaz diaspora and Abazin (Abaza), about 10-30 thousand citizens of Syria are of Abkhaz origin (the Abkhazians themselves consider much less). The exact number of Abkhazians in Syria is unknown, because representatives of all Abkhaz-Adyg peoples there are called the term "Circassians".
| Abkhaz in Syria | |
|---|---|
| Abundance and area | |
| Total: 7500 [1] . (estimated) | |
| Syria | |
| Tongue | Abkhaz language , Arabic , Circassian language |
| Religion | Sunni Muslims |
| Enters into | Abkhaz-Adyghe |
| Related peoples | Abkhazians , Abazins , Circassians in Syria |
History
The Abkhaz diaspora in Syria represents the descendants of the Abkhaz mahajirs. Forced migrants who left their homeland as a result of defeat in the Caucasian War .
Basically, the diaspora consists of coastal Sadz , evicted from their native land of 1867–1868, and Abzhu Abkhazians are also found.
The Nizhny Novgorod scholar, A. A. Kamrakov, who studied the characteristics of the development of the Circassian diaspora in the Middle East, made the following conclusions [1] : the Circassian diaspora in Syria currently numbers about 80 thousand people and consists of Adygei, Kabardians, Dagestan peoples, Vainakhs, Abkhazians and Ossetians. Representatives of the diaspora unite around the Circassian charitable society and a number of other public organizations that began to be created in the period of the 1920s. in order to preserve their traditional values. In the charters of the Circassian societies, it was said that they are created, among other things, to maintain community cohesion in the midst of an abundance of local conflicts with representatives of local tribes and ethnic religions (Bedouins, Druze).
The Abkhaz diaspora is in close contact with the Circassian diaspora , considering each other as one people. Most of the representatives of the Abkhaz diaspora do not speak their native language, the language of communication within the family in many Abkhaz families is Arabic .
In connection with the military conflict that broke out in Syria, many representatives of the Abkhaz diaspora, with the assistance of the Repatriation Committee of the Republic of Abkhazia , are returning to their historic homeland [2] .
Most of the Abkhaz diaspora in Syria, are descendants of descendants from the mountainous Abkhaz societies: Aibga , Pskhu , Tsabal , Sadzen .
Prominent members of the Abkhaz diaspora
- Feras Ismail - player of the Sukhumi football club Nart , played for the Syrian national team , as part of which he participated in the Asian Cup 2011 .
- Abaza Mamdouh Hamdi (Marchand) - a representative of the princely family Marchand . Lieutenant-General, Chief of Staff of the Syrian Air Force . Active participant in the Arab-Israeli wars , marked by the highest awards of the SAR, foreign orders and medals.
- Taj Heydar-Gogua is a Syrian actress, best known for her roles in Arab soap operas [3] .
- Munir Bakir (Kudzhba) - Lieutenant-General, was awarded the state award for inventing an improved electronic system for military units.
- Walid Abaza (Marchand) - a member of the Arab-Israeli wars , marked by orders and medals.
- Saim Bakir (Kudzhba) - Colonel of the Syrian Air Force , member of the Arab-Israeli wars .
- Sharaf Abaza (Marchand) - military doctor, deputy of the Syrian parliament , chairman of the " Adyga Hase " in Damascus . He did a lot to bring the Circassian diaspora closer to their homeland.
- Fadil Aryuta - writer, writer, translator. Author of the translation of many works of Western authors into Arabic.