This research plan provides a comprehensive overview of the Circassian community in Syria, tracing their history from their forced displacement from the Caucasus in 1864, a period widely considered the Circassian Genocide, to their strategic resettlement within the Ottoman Empire. It highlights their repeated experiences of uprooting, including the loss of communities in the Golan Heights in 1967 and the scattering caused by the Syrian Civil War since 2011. The document clarifies that the Circassian presence in Afrin is a result of recent administrative changes rather than historical settlement, with their established northern communities primarily located in Manbij and Shahba. Finally, it examines their precarious position within the multi-ethnic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), emphasizing their cultural resilience through the Adyghe Khabze and outlining recommendations for protecting their rights and addressing their uncertain future in a post-Assad Syria.
Note: This was made with AI research and AI audio output, and does not conform to academic standards. However, sources are confirmed as genuine.
This page was created on: June 19, 2025 and last updated: