Turkey: History and current situation of the Circassians (Çerkes, Čerkes, Čerkas, Cerkez, Çerkez, Ad²ghe, Adige, Adyge, Adighe)

Background Information

The Circassian people have their origins in a land historically described as Circassia, in the north-western part of the Caucasus region, named after the Caucasus mountain range that runs along the border between Russia on the north and Georgia and Azerbaijan on the south (Encyclopaedia Britannica 1989, 326). Another historical name for the north-west Caucasus is "country of the Kuban" (Encyclopaedia of Islam 1991, 21). The Circassians call themselves "Ad²ghe" or "Adyge" or "Adige" (Encyclopaedia of Islam 1991, 21; Caucasian Association 18 June 1999c; ibid. 18 June 1999d). The Circassian language has many dialects, from which two literary versions emerged after the creation of the Soviet Union; and written in the Cyrillic alphabet since the 1930s: Eastern Ad²ghe, (also called high Ad²ghe, or Kabard), and Lower Ad²ghe (also called K'akh, or simply Ad²ghe) (Encyclopaedia of Islam 1991, 22).

History

A Sunni Muslim people, before the introduction of Islam the Circassians practised Christianity, which was introduced by the rulers of the Byzantine Empire and Georgia (Encyclopaedia Britannica 1989, 326; Encyclopaedia of Islam 1991, 22). Islam was first introduced to the Circassian nobility in the 16^th century, and in the early 18^th century the religion spread to the rest of the population (ibid.). Even after the Islamization of Circassian society, remnants of ancient pre-Christian polytheistic worship remained (Encyclopaedia Britannica 1989, 326; Encyclopaedia of Islam 1991, 22).

During the 12^th and 13^th centuries Circassia came under the control of Georgian princes, and in the 16^th and 17^th centuries Circassian leaders asked for Russian support against attacks from Turkey and Iran (Encyclopaedia Britannica 1989, 326). In 1785 the northern Caucasus was brought under Russian control, and the Russian conquest of Circassia was completed in 1864 (ibid.; Encyclopaedia of Islam 1991, 25). Before the Russian conquest the main tribes of the Circassians were the Natukhay (Natkuadj), the Shapsug, the Abadzekh, the Mokhosh, the Temirgoy (Kemgui, Čengui), the Khatükay, the Besleney, the tribes of the Great Kabarda, the tribes of the Little Kabarda, the Ubekh (upside-down "e" in the original) and the Abaza (Encyclopaedia of Islam 1991, 21).

After the Russian conquest many Circassians left the country: the vast majority of the total population, according to the Encyclopaedia Britannica (1989, 326); the majority of the Western tribes, according to the Encyclopaedia of Islam  (1991, 21). Ottoman records indicate that 595,000 Circassians left Circassia for the Ottoman Empire (which includes what is now Turkey) between 1856 and 1864, and in 1945 there were still over 66,000 native Circassian speakers in Turkey (Encyclopaedia of Islam 1991, 25). There are smaller Circassian communities in Syria, Jordan, Iraq and Iran (Encyclopaedia Britannica 1989, 326).

Circassians in Contemporary Turkey

According to the journalist Thomas Goltz, in contemporary Turkey "Circassian" is a blanket term covering Turkish citizens belonging to several ethnic groups originating in the Russian-controlled Caucasus region, among them Chechens, the Abkhaz, the Ingush and the Adygey (The Washington Post 28 Jan. 1996; NPR 17 Jan. 1996). Goltz writes that the Circassian community in Turkey

has traditionally been traditionally been anti-Russian first – whether anti-Czarist, anti-communist or, as is the case now, anti-Yeltsin. They have also identified with right-of-center political parties in Turkey, especially those that espouse a sufficiently nationalistic, religious and anti-communist (i.e. anti-Russian) line. Much like Ukrainian or Polish-American groups during the chilliest days of U.S. Cold War politics, they have often outdone their brethren in the Russian homeland in political rhetoric and activity while, at the same time, rivaling ethnic "Turks" in their expressions of devotion to their adopted country. As such, the Circassians have provided core support for a succession of conservative governments in Turkey (Washington Post 28 Jan. 1996). 

Although Turkish Circassians voluntarily assimilated themselves linguistically and culturally into the Turkish majority, the resurgence of nationalism among the Muslim peoples in the Russian Caucasus region and the conflict between the Abkhaz and Georgians has inspired many Circassians to assert their distinct identity within Turkey (ibid.; NPR 17 Jan. 1996), and Circassian community activist Fazil Ozen expressed dismay that Turkey had failed to support the cause of Chechen independence from Russia (The Washington Post 28 Jan. 1996).

The Caucasian Association, a Circassian organization based in Istanbul, maintains an Internet Website in English and Turkish (Circassian Association 18 June 1999a). The Website lists 29 offices of the Caucasian Association throughout Turkey by street address, telephone and fax number and the name of the branch chairperson (ibid. 18 June 1999b). The Caucasian Association publishes a Turkish-language publication called Nart Journal (Nart Dergisi in Turkish) (ibid. 18 June 1999f; ibid. 18 June 1999g), and invites Circassian Internet visitors to join an e-mail list which currently features 100 Circassians in 12 countries (ibid. 18 June 1999e). The participants are listed by name, age and sex, and most entries include a personal message below the participant's e-mail address (ibid.). The Website quotes a 1993 book by Hayri Ersoy, Dili Edebiyati ve Tarihi ile Çerkesler, to the effect that there are three million Circassians in Turkey and 507,000 in Russia (ibid. 18 June 1999c).

Information on Circassians in Turkey can also be found in the World Directory of Minorities, available at Regional Documentation Centres.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Response.

Caucasian Association. 18 June 1999a [Last modified]. < http://www.marketweb.net.tr/tanitim/kafder/e_main.htm > [Accessed 15 Dec. 1999]

_____. 18 June 1999b. "Branch Offices." < http://www.marketweb.net/tr/tanitim/kafder/frame_e_sube.htm > [Accessed 15 Dec. 1999]

_____. 18 June 1999c. "Caucasian Nations." < http://www.marketweb.net/tu/tanitim/kafder/e_halklar.htm > [Accessed 15 Dec. 1999]

_____. 18 June 1999d. "Circassians." < http://www.marketweb.net/tr/tanitim/kafder/frame_e_cerkes.htm > [Accessed 15 Dec. 1999]

_____. 18 June 1999e. "Circassians' List." < http://www.marketweb.net/tr/tanitim/kafder/frame_e_list.htm > [Accessed 15 Dec. 1999]

_____. 18 June 1999f. "Nart Degisi." < http://www.marketweb.net/tr/tanitim/kafder/frame_t_nart.htm > [Accessed 15 Dec. 1999]

_____. 18 June 1999g. "Nart Journal." < http://www.marketweb.net.tr/tanitim/kafder/frame_e_nart.htm > [Accessed 15 Dec. 1999]

National Public Radio (NPR). 17 January 1996. "The Diaspora of Circassian Peoples Reflects Chechnya." (NEXIS)

The New Encyclopaedia Britannica. 1989. 15^th Ed. Vol. 3. Edited by Philip W. Goetz. Chicago: Encyclopaedia Britannica.

The Encyclopaedia of Islam. 1991. New Ed. Vol. 2. Edited by B. Lewis et al. Leiden: E. J. Brill.

The Washington Post. 28 January 1996. Final Edition. Thomas Goltz. "The Turkish Carpet Frays; The Black Sea Ferry Hijacking Reveals Ominous Forces of Division." (NEXIS)

Additional Sources Consulted

Amnesty International Report 1999. 1999

Broken Promises: Torture and Killings Continue in Turkey

Human Rights in Turkey: Briefing of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe. 1993

IRB databases

World New Connection (WNC)

Internet sites including:

Human Rights Watch World Report 2000