Circassians in Turkey
Circassians in Turkey refers to people born in or residing in Turkey that are of Circassian origin. The Circassians are one of the largest ethnic minorities in Turkey, with a population estimated to be two million, or according to the EU reports, three.
Тыркуем ис Адыгэхэр Türkiye Çerkesleri | |
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| Total population | |
| Estimated 2,000,000–3,000,000 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| in: | |
| Languages | |
| East Circassian West Circassian Turkish Arabic (in Antakya and Reyhanlı) | |
| Religion | |
| Sunni Islam (majority) • Circassian native faith Khabzeism • Atheism-Agnosticism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Abazins, Abkhazians, Chechens |
| Part of a series on the |
| Circassians Адыгэхэр |
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List of notable Circassians Circassian genocide |
| Circassian diaspora |
| Circassian tribes |
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Surviving Destroyed or barely existing |
| Religion |
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Religion in Circassia |
| Languages and dialects |
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| History |
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Show |
| Culture |
Circassians are a Caucasian people, and although the Circassians in Turkey were assimilated to some degree, a portion of the diaspora still speaks their native Circassian languages as it is still spoken in many Circassian villages, and the group that preserved their language the best are the Kabardians. With the rise of Circassian nationalism in the 21st century, Circassians in Turkey, especially the young, have started to study and learn their language. The Circassians in Turkey mostly identify as Muslim. The largest association of Circassians in Turkey, KAFFED, was the founding member of the International Circassian Association (ICA), until it left in 2022 due to "ICA acting as a Russian puppet organisation".
The closely related ethnic groups Abazins (10,000) and Abkhazians (39,000) are also often counted among them. The term "Circassian" was formerly used in the Ottoman Empire in the late 1800s to refer to all North Caucasians.