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Muslim Romani people

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Muslim Roma in Bosnia (around 1900)

Muslim Romani people or Muslim Roma are Romani people who profess Islam. They may also be known as Muslim Gypsies, with some Roma preferring to still use this term, not perceiving it as derogatory. They primarily live in the Balkans but are dispersed throughout Europe, with the majority being cultural or nominal Muslims.[1][2] Significant minorities of Muslim Roma are found in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Kosovo, Montenegro and North Macedonia.[3] They are also notably present in Crimea, Croatia (where 45% of the country's Romani population is Muslim[4]), Romania,[5][6] Serbia and Slovenia.[7] Xoroxane is a Romani term of Turkish origin used to refer to Muslim Romani people.[8]

Islam among Romani people is historically associated with their life within the Ottoman Empire. The majority of Muslim Roma in the former Yugoslavia speak Balkan Romani and South Slavic languages, while many speak only the language from the host country's like the Albanized Muslim Roma in Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro and North Macedonia, known as Khorakhan Shiptari. They speak only the Albanian language and have fully adopted the Albanian culture.[9] In Šuto Orizari (Shutka), North Macedonia, they have their own mosque and Romani Imam[10] and use the Quran in the Romani language.[11]

Turkish Roma are Roma who have fully adopted the Turkish language and culture, although a few also speak the Kurbetcha, Rumelian or Sepečides dialects of Romani. Some Muslims of Romani background in the Balkans do not identify as Romani, and have instead adopted the Turkish or Albanian ethnicities. Others are thought to have adopted the Askhali and Balkan Egyptian ethnicities.[12][13]

Ottoman/Turkish Influence

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Muslim Roma are generally deeply influenced by remnants of Ottoman Turkish culture, stemming from their time spent under Ottoman rule within Southeast and southeastern Central Europe.[14][15]

Under Ottoman Rule, the Christian and Muslim Roma were separated, by the order of Suleiman the Magnificent. Muslim Roma men served in the Military of the Ottoman Empire, especially in the Ottoman military band.[16] Muslim Roma were forbidden to marry Christian Roma or live together, and differences emerged between Muslim and Christian Roma.

Today, some Orthodox Christian Vlax Romani see themself as the čáče Roma (true Roma) and do not consider Muslim Roma to be part of Romani society and call them Turks. Some Muslim Roma, however, see Christian Roma as foreign and call them Dasikane (Servant, slaves). Also the phrase Amare Roma (Our Roma) and Cudza Roma (foreign Roma) is used vice versa. There is a considerable cultural gap between the two religious groups.[17]

Although Muslim Roma paid a jizya in the first centuries of the Ottoman Empire, an exception were the Muslim Roma in Ottoman Bosnia and Herzegovina, who were exempt from taxes by the order of Selim II. After the Edict of Gülhane , all Muslim Roma became exempt from paying the taxes to the Ottoman Empire and became fully accepted Muslims.[18] In 1874, the Ottoman Empire gave equal rights to other Muslims.[19]

After the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, the Muslim Roma have found themselves under double discrimination in regions where Islam was a minority religion, experiencing both Antiziganism and anti-Muslim sentiment.[20]

At the Greek War of Independence, Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878) and Balkan Wars (1912–1913), Muslim Roma flee together with other different Muslim Groups to Istanbul and East Thrace, as Muhacir.[21]

At the Population exchange between Greece and Turkey, Muslim Turkish Roma from Greece have also been resettled in Turkey. In Turkish, they are called Mübadil Romanlar.[22][23][24][25][26]

In 1950–1951 Muslim Turkish Roma from Bulgaria came to Turkey and settled in Çanakkale and surroundings.[27]

From 1953 -1968, Muslim Turkish Roma and Turks from Yugoslavia emigrated to Turkey.[28][29]

Because of the relative ease of migration in modern times, Muslim Roma may be found in other parts of the world as well. Turkish Roma from Turkey and also other Muslim Roma from ex-Yugoslavia, came to West Europe as Gastarbeiter, but seen by the Host population as Turks or Yugoslavs.[30] Muslim Roma from Bosnia and Kosovo went at the time of the Yugoslav Wars to Italy, and live especially in Florence.[31] Xoraxane (Muslim Roma) from former Yugoslavia went to USA, settled mostly in New York,[32][33] and South America.[33] Since 2007, Turkish Roma from Bulgaria went as workers to West Europe.[34]

Faith and status

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Muslim Roma typically follow Sunni Islam of the Hanafi madhhab. Some are Derviş of Sufism belief. The biggest Tariqa of Jerrahi is located at the largest Arlije and Gurbeti Muslim Roma settlement in Europe in Šuto Orizari (Shutka), North Macedonia. Romani people in Turkey are mostly Sunni.[35] Some are members of the Hindiler Tekkesi a Qadiriyya-Tariqa.[36] There is a small minority of Shia Roma in Serbia.[37] Under Ottoman rule, Roma Muslim had a lower social status than non-Roma Muslims, but above that of non-Muslims.[38]

Xoroxane

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A Romani translation of the Qur'an

Xoraxane (also spelled as Khorakhane, Xoraxane, Kharokane, Xoraxai, etc. - meaning Lovers of the Koran) is a religionym, confessionym, and umbrella term for Muslim Roma. It typically refers to Muslim Roma in the Balkans, whose ancestors adopted Islam at the time of the Ottoman Empire.[39][8] Alternatively, it refers to all Muslim Roma in the Balkans and European Turkey, as well as those who have dispersed to other parts of Europe. Most are Sunni Muslims of the Hanafi madhhab.[39] Their culture is generally shaped by a strong Ottoman Turkish influence, often accompanied by later influences from the Balkan Turkish or wider Euro-Turkish diaspora.[40][41]

Dress

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Muslim Roma women wear silk Dimije also known as Turkish salvar, at weddings, circumcision ceremonies, and other festivals. Even on weekdays, quite a few older women, but also some younger women, wear the şalvar.[42]

Dance and music

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Belly dance and Romano Hora (dance), Roman Havaları 8/9 tact, Zurna, Davul, Clarinet are performed. In the Ottoman Empire, especially young handsome Romani Guys were taken as Köçek-Dancers while young Romani female-dancers were named Çengi.[43]

Muslim Roma who practice religious male circumcision, tend to hold their ceremonies (Bijav Suneti) with great pomp and festivity.[44] The boys are often circumcised at the age of five, because the number 5 (panč) is considered a sacred symbol among some Romani people. It is a custom among some Muslim Roma that the prepuce be buried.[45] During the ceremony, the child’s hand and feet are held by his Kirvo (godfather). A Kirvo pays the cost of the circumcision ceremony.[46] The Tradition of a Kirve who is similar to a Sandek, is also practised in Alevism and Yazidism in Turkey.[47]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Becky, Taylor (2014). Another Darkness, Another Dawn: A History of Gypsies, Roma and Travellers. Reaktion Books. p. 31. ISBN 9781780232973.
  2. ^ Barutcu, Atilla (January 2015). ""Ucundan Azıcık"la Atılan Sağlam Temel: Türkiye'de Sünnet Ritüeli ve Erkeklik İlişkisi". Masculinities: A Journal of Identity and Culture.
  3. ^ Gerd Nonneman, Tim Niblock, Bogdan Szajkowski (Eds.) (1996) "Muslim Communities in the New Europe", ISBN 0-86372-192-3
  4. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 July 2007. Retrieved 6 February 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. ^ Ana Oprişan, George Grigore, "The Muslim Gypsies in Romania" Archived 5 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine, in International Institute for the Study of Islam in the Modern World (ISIM) Newsletter 8, September 2001, p.32; retrieved 2 June 2007
  6. ^ Rotaru, Julieta (1 January 2021). "CONSIDERATIONS ABOUT THE 'TURKISH GYPSIES' AS CRYPTO-MUSLIMS IN WALLACHIA". History and Culture of Roma. Festschrift in Honour of Prof. Dr. Vesselin Popov. ISBN/GTIN 978-3-96939-071-9. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
  7. ^ Stropnik, Nada (2011). "Promoting Social Inclusion of Roma" (PDF). Peer Review Social Inclusion EU. p. 6.
  8. ^ a b "Xoraxane Roma".
  9. ^ "The identity of a Gypsy community".
  10. ^ "Society: Macedonia's Romani Imam". Transitions Online (6/08). 2010.
  11. ^ "Quran Collection: The Noble Quran in Romani Language – (Juzz Amma) -... | Romani language, Noble quran, Romani".
  12. ^ Trubeta, Sevasti (2005). "Balkan Egyptians and Gypsy/Roma Discourse". Nationalities Papers. 33: 71–95. doi:10.1080/00905990500053788. S2CID 155028453 – via ResearchGate.
  13. ^ Govers, C.; Vermeulen, H. (30 April 2016). The Politics of Ethnic Consciousness. Palgrave Macmillan UK. ISBN 9781349646739.
  14. ^ Marushiakova, Elena; Popov, Vesselin (2018). "Roma Communities on the Balkans: History and Identities". University of St. Andrews. pp. 13–14.
  15. ^ "The Muslim Gypsies in Romania" (PDF). Universiteit Leiden. Retrieved 22 June 2025.
  16. ^ "Ottoman Empire : Historical Sources about the "Gypsies" in the Empire". Rm.coe.int. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  17. ^ "ROMA GROUPS | Център за междуетнически диалог и толерантност АМАЛИПЕ". Amalipe.bg. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  18. ^ Marushiakova, Elena. "Roma Muslims in the Balkans".
  19. ^ Kenrick, Donald (2007). Historical Dictionary of the Gypsies (Romanies). Scarecrow Press. p. 281. ISBN 978-0-8108-5468-0.
  20. ^ Peter G. Danchin, Elizabeth A. Cole (Eds.) (2002) "Protecting the Human Rights of Religious Minorities in Eastern Europe", ISBN 0-231-12475-9
  21. ^ "Expulsion and Emigration of the Muslims from the Balkans". Ieg-ego.eu.
  22. ^ Zeynep BİLGEHAN (11 March 2019). "Mübadil Romanların az bilinen hikâyesi". Hurriyet.com.tr.
  23. ^ "Unutulan Mübadil Romanlar: 'Toprağın kovduğu insanlar'". Kronos34.news. 7 February 2021.
  24. ^ "GEÇMİŞİN AYNASINDA LOZAN ÇİNGENELERİ: GÖÇ, HATIRA VE DENEYİMLER" (PDF). Sdergi.hacettepe.edu.tr. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  25. ^ "Sepečides Romani-Project : History" (PDF). Rombase.uni-graz.at. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  26. ^ Yilgür, Egemen (December 2015). "Ethnicity, class and politicisation: Immigrant Roma tobacco workers in Turkey". Romani Studies. 25 (2): 167–196. doi:10.3828/rs.2015.7. S2CID 146293564.
  27. ^ Mithat ATABAY. "Çingene Sorunu ve 1950–1951 Yıllarında Bulgaristan'dan Çanakkale'ye Göçler" (PDF). Acarindex.com. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  28. ^ Nikolina Rajkovic. "The Post-Second World War Immigration of the Yugoslav Muslims to Turkey (1953–1968)" (PDF). Etd.ceu.edu. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  29. ^ Pezo, Edvin (2018). "Emigration and Policy in Yugoslavia: Dynamics and Constraints within the Process of Muslim Emigration to Turkey during the 1950s". European History Quarterly. 48 (2): 283–313. doi:10.1177/0265691418757391. S2CID 149846476.
  30. ^ "Arlije [Rombase]".
  31. ^ Speziale, Fabrizio (December 2005). "Adapting Mystic Identity to Italian Mainstream Islam: The Case of a Muslim Rom Community in Florence". Balkanologie. Revue d'Études Pluridisciplinaires. 9 (1–2). doi:10.4000/balkanologie.589.
  32. ^ Weyrauch, Walter O. (12 September 2001). Gypsy Law: Romani Legal Traditions and Culture. University of California Press. ISBN 9780520924277.
  33. ^ a b "Xoraxane Roma". www.romarchive.eu.
  34. ^ Kyuchukov, Hristo (27 December 2019). "Turkish, Bulgarian and German Language Mixing Among Bulgarian Muslim Roma in Germany". East European Journal of Psycholinguistics. 6 (2): 50–57. doi:10.29038/eejpl.2019.6.2.kyu. S2CID 241338430 – via ResearchGate.
  35. ^ Abbas, Tahir (5 December 2016). Contemporary Turkey in Conflict: Ethnicity, Islam and Politics. Edinburgh University Press. ISBN 978-1-4744-1801-0.
  36. ^ YÖK Açık Bilim
  37. ^ Wachsmuth, Melody (17 October 2022). Roma Pentecostals Narrating Identity, Trauma, and Renewal in Croatia and Serbia. BRILL. ISBN 978-90-04-51897-1.
  38. ^ Evstatiev, Simeon; Eickelman, Dale F. (25 April 2022). Islam, Christianity, and Secularism in Bulgaria and Eastern Europe: The Last Half Century. BRILL. ISBN 978-90-04-51156-9.
  39. ^ a b "Xoraxane Roma". www.romarchive.eu. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  40. ^ Marushiakova, Elena; Popov, Vesselin (2018). "Roma Communities on the Balkans: History and Identities". University of St. Andrews. pp. 13–14.
  41. ^ "The Muslim Gypsies in Romania" (PDF). Universiteit Leiden. Retrieved 22 June 2025.
  42. ^ Adamou, E. (2021). The Adaptive Bilingual Mind: Insights from Endangered Languages. Cambridge University Press. p. 119. ISBN 978-1-108-83951-8.
  43. ^ Besiroglu, Sehvar. "Music, Identity, Gender: Çengi̇s, Köçeks, Çöçeks".
  44. ^ "ROMANINET- A MULTIMEDIA ROMANI COURSE FOR PROMOTING LINGUISTIC DIVERSITY AND IMPROVING SOCIAL DIALOGUE : REPORT ON ROMA PEOPLE" (PDF). Romaninet.com. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  45. ^ Alexander Novik (December 2020). "The Rite of Male Circumcision among the Muslim Population in the Western Balkans". Folklore. 80: 151–168. doi:10.7592/FEJF2020.80.novik.
  46. ^ "Historic tradition of circumcision". Daily Sabah. 28 July 2017.
  47. ^ "KIRVELIK TRADITION IN DIFFERENT RELIGIOUS GROUPS: A RESEARCH ON THE TRANSFORMATION OF RITUAL KINSHIP".

Further reading

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