10.10.2006 - Source: International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights

Non-recognized minority: Circassians (history of Circassians; around 2 million Circassians in the country) ("A Minority Policy of Systematic Negation") [ID 18259]

"The Circassians are considered a very old indigenous people in the North Caucasus. They formed a coherent identity in the 10th century but, in the course of the centuries, were influenced by the Persian, Roman, Byzantine, and Georgian empires and, later, by the Ottoman Empire, where many held posts in the military. The series of clashes against Russian attempts to conquer the Circassians in the late 18th century and early to mid 19th century culminated in the mass deportation of the Circassian people in 1864, during which many of them perished, and the flight of others to various parts of the Ottoman empire. A significant number of Circassians thus ended up in Turkey.

Today, there are an estimated 2 million Circassians living throughout Turkey. A minority of them still speaks the Circassian language, which belongs to the family of the northwestern Caucasian languages. Most are Sunni Muslims."

Document(s): Report
Press Release

10.10.2006 - Source: International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights

Circassians and language rights ("A Minority Policy of Systematic Negation") [ID 18449]

"The Circassians appear to have lost – among other bits of cultural identity – their language, and the younger generations no longer speak it. Yet, because of Turkey’s policies on hindering minority languages, it is most difficult for Turkey’s Circassians to rescue their language. Circassians themselves insist that permission to give private language courses is not sufficient to save the language – it would be crucial that the Turkish government supports the opening of Circassian language schools."

Document(s): Report
Press Release

14.07.2004 - Source: Institute for War and Peace Reporting

Kabardino-Balkaria: a Turkish citizen of Circassian (or Adyg) ethnicity, who successfully challenged his deportation from Kabardino-Balkaria, had his permanent residence status restored by the visa service of the interior ministry ("Kabardino-Balkaria: Circassian Clears Last Repatriation Hurdle") [#23997],  [ID 13797]

Document(s): Open document