Chechens in Jordan

Last updated
Chechens in Jordan
Total population
12,000–30,000 (2007) [1]
Languages
Chechen, Jordanian Arabic [2]
Religion
Mostly Sufi Islam
Related ethnic groups
Chechens, Chechens in Syria, Ingush, Kists, Bats

Chechens of Jordan are Chechens who have inhabited Jordan since the expulsion of Caucasians in the 19th century. [3] Chechens have played an important role in the foundation of Jordan as a modern state.

Contents

History

Expulsion

In the second half of the 18th century, the Russian Empire was fighting the peoples of the Caucasus in an expansionist war, known as the Caucasian War. [4] One of the outcomes of the war was that many native peoples of the Caucasus were forcefully expelled to the Ottoman Empire. An estimated 5,000 Chechen families were expelled to the Ottoman Empire. [5] In March 1903, the Ottoman authorities sent the first 700 Chechen families to the region of Transjordan. The Chechen settlers chose to settle non-populated areas most suitable for agriculture and close to water sources. These settlers founded Zarqa, Jordan's second largest city. [6]

Foundation of the Emirate of Transjordan

In October 1920, after establishing the Emirate of Transjordan, the United Kingdom mobilized a "mobile force" under the command of Captain Frederick Gerard Peake to defend the territory against both internal and external threats. The Mobile Force was based in Zarqa. 80% of its men were drawn from the local Chechen community. [7]

Military and political representation

Chechens are heavily represented in the Jordanian armed forces and intelligence apparatus since the foundation of the Emirate of Transjordan. [8]

Chechens and Circassians are mandated 3 seats in the Jordanian house of representatives, [9] currently two of those seats are held by Chechens.[ citation needed ]

Organizations

Notable Chechens from Jordan

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References

  1. "Jordan willing to assist Chechnya - King". 28 August 2007.
  2. Forker, Diana; Al Sheshani, Ala (2023). "Far beyond the Caucasus: Chechen in contact with Jordanian Arabic". In Levkovych, Nataliya (ed.). Diversity in Contact. De Gruyter. pp. 111–144. doi:10.1515/9783111323756-003/html. ISBN   978-3-11-132375-6.
  3. "War 'back home' divides Jordan's Chechen community". The Japan Times.
  4. King, Charles (2008). The ghost of freedom : a history of the Caucasus. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN   978-0-19-517775-6. OCLC   171614379.
  5. Jersild, Austin (12 March 2002). Orientalism and empire : North Caucasus mountain peoples and the Georgian frontier, 1845-1917. Montreal. p. 24. ISBN   978-0-7735-6996-6. OCLC   123470225.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  6. Гарсаев (2019). Чеченские мухаджиры и их потомки в истории и культуре Иордании. p. 85.
  7. Pike, John. "The Chechen Chronicles '98'". Globalsecurity.org.
  8. Гарсаев (2019). Чеченские мухаджиры и их потомки в истории и культуре Иордании. p. 124.
  9. "MIDDLE EAST: JORDAN". cia.gov. 7 September 2023.
  10. Гарсаев (2019). Чеченские мухаджиры и их потомки в истории и культуре Иордании. p. 38.
  11. Гарсаев (2019). Чеченские мухаджиры и их потомки в истории и культуре Иордании. p. 90.
  12. 1 2 Гарсаев (2019). Чеченские мухаджиры и их потомки в истории и культуре Иордании. p. 299.