Ashkali
Encyclopedia
In the Balkans, the Ashkali (also Hashkali, Aškalije (Ашкалије), Haškalije (Хашкалије)) and Egyptians (Balkan Egyptians, Jevgs, Egjiptjant or Gjupci) are Albanian
-speaking ethnic minorities (recognized communities) of Kosovo
and Albania
. Observers consider them Albanized
Romanies, but they do not self-identify as such. Prior to the Kosovo War
of 1999, Albanized Roma registered themselves as Albanians. Now they are divided by identifying with two different groups, although the people share a culture, traditions and language (Albanian).
During the Kosovo War, Albanized Roma were displaced as refugees in Albania and the Republic of Macedonia
. Albanized Roma formed the Ashkali as an ethnic group
in 1999, as they tried to show their pro-Albanian stance and distinguish themselves from the Roma. The latter were considered to be pro-Serbian
during the war and thus opposed by the Albanians. Many of the Albanized Roma were then sent to refugee camps with Roma, with whom they did not share the same language and customs.
Albanized Roma formed the ethnic group known as the Egyptians to distance themselves from other Roma in Macedonia. The ethnic identity was adopted by Albanized Roma in Kosovo who wanted to separate themselves both from other Roma and Albanians.
in the 4th century AD http://facta.junis.ni.ac.rs/pas/pas2001/pas2001-05.pdf. The Balkan Egyptians say that they originated from Egypt in ancient times.
The name "Ashkali" comes from the Turkish root-word As (Has). It was earlier applied to sedentary Roma who settled in Albanian areas during Ottoman Empire
times. The Ashkalija speak Albanian as their first language. Ashkalija often worked as blacksmiths, or manual laborers on Ottoman estates. Ashkalija are found mainly in eastern and central Kosovo.
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
.
In 1990, an Egyptian association was formed in Ohrid
, Macedonia. During the Kosovo War, Albanized Roma were displaced as refugees in Albania and the Republic of Macedonia. Many Ashkali fought in the Kosovo Liberation Army
. Albanized Roma formed the ethnic group Ashkali after the end of the war in 1999, to show their pro-Albanian stance and distinguish themselves from the Roma, who had been negatively viewed as pro-Serbian during the war. Many Albanized Roma were also sent to refugee camps with other Roma, with whom they did not share the same language and customs. As the majority of Kosovo (or Albanized) Roma, many Ashkali refugees settled in Serbia
and Montenegro
. There they were identified as Black Montenegrins and Romano-Palestinians. The first Ashkali party (Democratic Party of the Ashkali Albanians of Kosovo) was formed in 2000 under Sabit Rrahmani, who supported Kosovo independence in the name of all Ashkali.
In Kosovo, the Ashkali were aligned with Albanians before, during and after the Kosovo War. However, Ashkali, along with Romani Gypsies from Kosovo, have reportedly been expelled from the area.
(Serbian: Uroševac, Kosovo Polje and Lipljan). Egyptians live in western Kosovo; in Gjakove, Istog, Peje
and Deçan
(Serbian: Đakovica, Istok, Peć and Dečani). The Ashkali/Egyptian community of Kosovo had 98% unemployment in 2009.
The Ashkali and Roma claim the Egyptians as their own; whereas the Ashkali and Egyptians dispute over each others' background. No television or radio channels are dedicated to Askhali or Egyptian minority audiences.
Albanian language
Albanian is an Indo-European language spoken by approximately 7.6 million people, primarily in Albania and Kosovo but also in other areas of the Balkans in which there is an Albanian population, including western Macedonia, southern Montenegro, southern Serbia and northwestern Greece...
-speaking ethnic minorities (recognized communities) of Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
and Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
. Observers consider them Albanized
Albanisation
Albanisation is a term used to describe a linguistic or cultural assimilation to the Albanian language and Albanian culture.- In Kosovo :The term is used in reference to Kosovo....
Romanies, but they do not self-identify as such. Prior to the Kosovo War
Kosovo War
The term Kosovo War or Kosovo conflict was two sequential, and at times parallel, armed conflicts in Kosovo province, then part of FR Yugoslav Republic of Serbia; from early 1998 to 1999, there was an armed conflict initiated by the ethnic Albanian "Kosovo Liberation Army" , who sought independence...
of 1999, Albanized Roma registered themselves as Albanians. Now they are divided by identifying with two different groups, although the people share a culture, traditions and language (Albanian).
During the Kosovo War, Albanized Roma were displaced as refugees in Albania and the Republic of Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
. Albanized Roma formed the Ashkali as an ethnic group
Ethnic group
An ethnic group is a group of people whose members identify with each other, through a common heritage, often consisting of a common language, a common culture and/or an ideology that stresses common ancestry or endogamy...
in 1999, as they tried to show their pro-Albanian stance and distinguish themselves from the Roma. The latter were considered to be pro-Serbian
Serbs
The Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...
during the war and thus opposed by the Albanians. Many of the Albanized Roma were then sent to refugee camps with Roma, with whom they did not share the same language and customs.
Albanized Roma formed the ethnic group known as the Egyptians to distance themselves from other Roma in Macedonia. The ethnic identity was adopted by Albanized Roma in Kosovo who wanted to separate themselves both from other Roma and Albanians.
History
The Ashkali claim that they came from Persia via AshkelonAshkelon
Ashkelon is a coastal city in the South District of Israel on the Mediterranean coast, south of Tel Aviv, and north of the border with the Gaza Strip. The ancient seaport of Ashkelon dates back to the Neolithic Age...
in the 4th century AD http://facta.junis.ni.ac.rs/pas/pas2001/pas2001-05.pdf. The Balkan Egyptians say that they originated from Egypt in ancient times.
The name "Ashkali" comes from the Turkish root-word As (Has). It was earlier applied to sedentary Roma who settled in Albanian areas during Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
times. The Ashkalija speak Albanian as their first language. Ashkalija often worked as blacksmiths, or manual laborers on Ottoman estates. Ashkalija are found mainly in eastern and central Kosovo.
A 14th-century reference to a placename (Агѹповы клѣти, Agupovy klěti) in the Rila Charter
Medieval Bulgarian royal charters
The medieval Bulgarian royal charters are some of the few secular documents of the medieval Bulgarian Empire . The eight preserved charters all date to the 13th and 14th century, the time of the Second Bulgarian Empire, and were issued by five tsars roughly between 1230 and 1380...
of Ivan Alexander of Bulgaria
Ivan Alexander of Bulgaria
Ivan Alexander , also known as John Alexander, ruled as Emperor of Bulgaria from 1331 to 1371, during the Second Bulgarian Empire. The date of his birth is unknown. He died on February 17, 1371. The long reign of Ivan Alexander is considered a transitional period in Bulgarian medieval history...
is thought to be related to the Balkan Egyptians according to some authors, such as Konstantin Josef Jireček
Konstantin Josef Jirecek
Konstantin Josef Jireček , son of Josef Jireček, was a Czech historian, diplomat and slavist.He entered the Bulgarian service in 1879, and in 1881 became minister of education at Sofia...
.
In 1990, an Egyptian association was formed in Ohrid
Ohrid
Ohrid is a city on the eastern shore of Lake Ohrid in the Republic of Macedonia. It has about 42,000 inhabitants, making it the seventh largest city in the country. The city is the seat of Ohrid Municipality. Ohrid is notable for having once had 365 churches, one for each day of the year and has...
, Macedonia. During the Kosovo War, Albanized Roma were displaced as refugees in Albania and the Republic of Macedonia. Many Ashkali fought in the Kosovo Liberation Army
Kosovo Liberation Army
The Kosovo Liberation Army or KLA was a Kosovar Albanian paramilitary organization which sought the separation of Kosovo from Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in the 1990s....
. Albanized Roma formed the ethnic group Ashkali after the end of the war in 1999, to show their pro-Albanian stance and distinguish themselves from the Roma, who had been negatively viewed as pro-Serbian during the war. Many Albanized Roma were also sent to refugee camps with other Roma, with whom they did not share the same language and customs. As the majority of Kosovo (or Albanized) Roma, many Ashkali refugees settled in Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
and Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
. There they were identified as Black Montenegrins and Romano-Palestinians. The first Ashkali party (Democratic Party of the Ashkali Albanians of Kosovo) was formed in 2000 under Sabit Rrahmani, who supported Kosovo independence in the name of all Ashkali.
In Kosovo, the Ashkali were aligned with Albanians before, during and after the Kosovo War. However, Ashkali, along with Romani Gypsies from Kosovo, have reportedly been expelled from the area.
Distribution
Most Ashkali and Egyptians live in Kosovo and Republic of Macedonia, but the peoples also reside in Albania, Serbia and Montenegro. 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". In the Montenegrin census, 225 people self-identified as "Egyptian" or "Palestinian Judas" from Ashkelon.Kosovo
Ashkali are predominant in the central and eastern regions of Kosovo; Ferizaj, Fushe Kosove and LipjanLipjan
Lipljan is a city and municipality in the Pristina district of central Kosovo.-Name and history:In Roman times the city was known as Ulpiana from which the name Lipljan is derived. Ulpiana was named by the Romans in honor of the Roman Emperor Marcus Ulpius Nerva Traianus...
(Serbian: Uroševac, Kosovo Polje and Lipljan). Egyptians live in western Kosovo; in Gjakove, Istog, Peje
Peje
Peje may refer to:* Peje, the nickname of Andrés Manuel López Obrador, a Mexican politician *Peje, a chiefdom of Sierra Leone, in the Pujehun District of the Southern Province...
and Deçan
Decan
Decan can refer to:* Deçan, a town in Kosovo* Decans, a concept in astrology....
(Serbian: Đakovica, Istok, Peć and Dečani). The Ashkali/Egyptian community of Kosovo had 98% unemployment in 2009.
Culture
While Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptians claim ethnic differences among them, they frequently intermarry. But, overall marriages between Roma and non-Roma (Gadje, outsiders) are extremely rare. Egyptians, Roma, and Ashkalija do not classify one another as Gadje.The Ashkali and Roma claim the Egyptians as their own; whereas the Ashkali and Egyptians dispute over each others' background. No television or radio channels are dedicated to Askhali or Egyptian minority audiences.
See also
- Democratic Ashkali Party of KosovoDemocratic Ashkali Party of KosovoThe Democratic Ashkali Party of Kosovo is an Ashkali political party in Kosovo.At the legislative elections held on 24 October 2004, the party won 0.4 % of the popular vote and 1 out of 120 seats.-References:...
- Matica Aškalija in Novi SadNovi SadNovi Sad is the capital of the northern Serbian province of Vojvodina, and the administrative centre of the South Bačka District. The city is located in the southern part of Pannonian Plain on the Danube river....
, VojvodinaVojvodinaVojvodina, officially called Autonomous Province of Vojvodina is an autonomous province of Serbia. Its capital and largest city is Novi Sad... - Ashkali flag at FAME
External links
- NEW ETHNIC IDENTITIES IN THE BALKANS: THE CASE OF THE EGYPTIANS
- 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