Ashkali
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| proposed Ashkali flag (Matica Aškalija, Amëza e Ashkalive), designed in 1999 by Abedin Toplica.[1] |
| Total population |
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| unknown |
| Regions with significant populations |
| Kosovo Albania Montenegro Serbia |
| Languages |
| Religion |
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predominantly Islam. |
| Related ethnic groups |
The Ashkali (also Aschkali, Hashkali, Aškalije (Ашкалије), Haškalije (Хашкалије)) are an Albanian speaking ethnic minority of Kosovo and Albania. They are usually considered Albanized Roma, but parts of the group self-identify as "Egyptians" (Albanian: Egjiptian; Serbian: Египћани, Egipćani or Ђупци, Đupci; Macedonian: Египќанци, Egipkjanci or Ѓупци, Gjupci; Bulgarian: Агупти, Agupti — in the Rhodopes[2]), claiming Egyptian origin, supposedly via immigration through Palestine, deriving the ethnonym from Ashkelon. The common designation gypsies applied to the Romani people also originates with a (mistaken) belief in Egyptian origin of the Romani.
In Kosovo, the Ashkali appeared to be aligned with Albanians before the Kosovo War. However, there were reports of mass expulsion of Ashkali along with Roma from Kosovo that took place after the war[3]. Many Ashkali refugees settled in Central Serbia and Vojvodina. In Serbia and Montenegro, they went by other names like Black Montenegrins and Romano-Palestinians.
A 14th-century reference to a placename (Агѹповы клѣти, Agupovy klěti) in the Rila Charter of Ivan Alexander of Bulgaria is thought to be related to the Balkan Egyptians according to some authors, such as Konstantin Josef Jireček.[4][5]
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[edit] Distribution
Most Ashkali live in Kosovo, but they are also present in Albania, Central Serbia, Vojvodina, Republic of Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey and Hungary.[citation needed]
In the Macedonian census of 2002, 3,713 people self-identified as "Egyptian". In the Serbian census of 2002 (excluding Kosovo), 814 people self-identified as "Egyptian".
[edit] References
- Dragan Novaković, Potomci faraona u Srbiji, DT Magazin, 4. April 1998.
- Marushiakova, E. and All. Identity Formation among Minorities in the Balkans: The cases of Roms, and Ashkali in Kosovo. Sofia: Minority Studies Society "Studii Romani", 2001.
- ^ Abedin Toplica: "Flamuri Kombëtar i Ashkalive / Zastava Aškalija / The National Flag", Ashkali Horizonti, nr. 2, 2003 www.ashkali.org.yu "The flag is red with a black rising eagle in front of a green disk. The red and black colour are similar [to the Albanian flag. The green disk represent[s] Islam"
- ^ Христов, Христо; Георги Янков (1989). "Глава VI. Културата на ислямизираните българи — неразделна част от общобългарската култура" (in Bulgarian). Очерк за ислямизираните българи и националновъзродителния процес. София: Наука и изкуство. p. 108. http://www.promacedonia.org/hh_gja/hh_gja_6_5.html.
- ^ Memorandum of the Society for Threatened People on the Issue of Lead Poisoning of Roma in IDP Camps in Kosovo, GFBV.
- ^ Даскалова, Ангелина; Мария Райкова (2005) (in Bulgarian). Грамоти на българските царе. София: Академично издателство "Марин Дринов". p. 57.
- ^ Trubeta, Sevasti (March 2005). "Balkan Egyptians and Gypsy/Roma Discourse" (PDF). Nationalities Papers 33 (1): pp. 71–95. doi:. http://taylorandfrancis.metapress.com/index/N241R07987226088.pdf.
[edit] See also
- Roma people in the Balkans
- Democratic Ashkali Party of Kosovo
- Matica Aškalija in Novi Sad, Vojvodina
- Ashkali flag at FAME
[edit] External links
- [1] NEW ETHNIC IDENTITIES IN THE BALKANS:
THE CASE OF THE EGYPTIANS ]
- [2] Differences of prejudices and collective blames toward to the Balkan’s Egyptians ]
- Egjiptianëve Kosovarë
- Union of Balkan's Egyptians
- The New Democratic Initiative of Kosovo (Iniciativa e re Demokrarike e Kosovës)
- New Democratic Initiative of Kosovo based in Switzerland
- Minority Rights Group
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