Chechens in Syria
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 6,000–35,000 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
Arabic | |
| Religion | |
| Sunni Islam |
Chechens in Syria are ethnic Chechens who form a small minority in Syria.
History
Syria is home to a substantial Chechen population who emigrated there due to the
The hostility of Chechens to the Assad Government is strengthened by the close relationship between Russia and the Assad Government, and long historical Chechen–Russian conflict.[3] There are also recent Chechen soldiers working on the Assad side, mostly sent by strongman in Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov.[4]
Population
There are no reliable figures on ethnic minorities in Syria, however, estimates on the Chechen minority ranged from 6,000 to 35,000 in 2008.[1]
The Chechen community in the Golan Heights were evicted following the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, with many Chechen refugees moving to Damascus whilst others emigrated abroad, especially to the United States.[1]
Culture
Due to repression by the Syrian Ba'athist government, the Chechen minority have had little success in preserving their language and culture.[1] The Encyclopedia of Arabic Language and Linguistics places the Chechen language as the sixth-most spoken language in the country.[5]
References
- ^ ISBN 978-0415323284
- ^ Mairbek Vatchagaev (1 October 2015). "Is Moscow Set to Target Russians Fighting Against Assad in Syria?". Jamestown Foundation. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
- ^ "Chechens drawn south to fight against Syria's Assad". BBC News. 20 November 2013.
- ^ "Chechen leader claims his troops eager to fight 'scum' in Syria". 8 December 2016.
- ISBN 978-90-04-14476-7
| Religions |
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|---|---|
| Ethnic groups | |
| Foreign nationals |
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1 Under the terms of the Syrian Constitution the Druze community is designated as a part of the Syrian Muslim community. | |
