The
Domari-speaking (or rather, historically speaking) community in Syria, commonly identified as
Dom Dom or DOM may refer to:
People and fictional characters
* Dom (given name), including fictional characters
* Dom (surname)
* Dom La Nena (born 1989), stage name of Brazilian-born cellist, singer and songwriter Dominique Pinto
* Dom people, an et ...
and
Nawar (and simply "gypsies" in English), is estimated to number 100–250,000 or 250–300,000 people. The vast majority is sedentary. There are semi-nomadic groups, some moving outside the country. In
Aleppo
)), is an adjective which means "white-colored mixed with black".
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, the Dom community is probably the largest, while they are reported to live in
Damascus
)), is an adjective which means "spacious".
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, image_flag = Flag of Damascus.svg
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,
Homs
Homs ( , , , ; ar, حِمْص / ALA-LC: ; Levantine Arabic: / ''Ḥomṣ'' ), known in pre-Islamic Syria as Emesa ( ; grc, Ἔμεσα, Émesa), is a city in western Syria and the capital of the Homs Governorate. It is Metres above sea level ...
and
Latakia
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, elevation_m = 11
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, area_code = Country code: 963 City code: 41
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as well. The community is highly marginalised in society, and they are referred to as ''
Qurbāṭ'' (''ʾərbāṭ'' in Aleppo) and ''Qarač'' in the northern part, and ''Nawar'' (widely used in the Levant) elsewhere. These terms are used for various groups that mainly share socio-economic profile. The community is divided into clans.
The Domari are believed to have migrated from
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
via Persia. They seem to have been an
Indian
Indian or Indians may refer to:
Peoples South Asia
* Indian people, people of Indian nationality, or people who have an Indian ancestor
** Non-resident Indian, a citizen of India who has temporarily emigrated to another country
* South Asia ...
nomadic
caste
Caste is a form of social stratification characterised by endogamy, hereditary transmission of a style of life which often includes an occupation, ritual status in a hierarchy, and customary social interaction and exclusion based on cultura ...
specializing in metalwork and entertainment. The language is Indo-Aryan, closely related to
Central Indian and
Northwest Indian. The Dom language (''Domari'') in the Middle East is known as ''Nawari''. Domari shows Turkic, Kurdish and Arabic influence. There has been a
language shift
Language shift, also known as language transfer or language replacement or language assimilation, is the process whereby a speech community shifts to a different language, usually over an extended period of time. Often, languages that are perceiv ...
into Arabic.
The exonym "Nawar" could be used sometimes offensively, denoting a contemptible and immoral lifestyle associating them with beggars, itinerants, and thieves.
During the
Syrian civil war, there were several reports regarding Syrian Dom immigrants in Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan.
Dom Research Center
/ref>
See also
*Gypsies in Iraq
The Kawliya, Qawliya or Awaz, Keche-Hjälp ( ar, كاولية or كاولي), also known as Zott and Ghorbati (known in English as ''Gypsies''), is a community in Iraq of Indian origin, estimated to number over 60,000 people. Today they speak most ...
*Nawar (people)
Nawar is an Arabic term for several nomad communities used primarily in Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and Palestine. The term, regarded as derogatory, is used by Arabs for several diverse ethnic groups. They have historically been called "Gyps ...
References
Sources
*
* Williams (2001)
The Gypsies of Syria
Dom Research Center
*
*
*
* Tarlan, K.V. (2015). From The Occupation of Iraq to ” The Arab Spring ”: Gypsies in the Middle Eas
* Tarlan, K.V. (2016). The Dom Gypsies: “Other” Refugees of Syri
* Tarlan, K.V. (2015).Irak'ın işgalinden "Arap Baharı"na Ortadoğu'da Çingeneler: Öteki sığınmacılar. '' Birikim , Birikim Dergisi''
* Tarlan, K.V., Foggo, H., (2016). Dom Migrants from Syria: Living at the Bottom on the Road amid Poverty and Discrimination. Ankara: Development Workshop
* Tarlan, K.V. (2018). Encouraging Integration and Social Cohesion of Syrian Dom Immigrants Proposal for a Regional Social Inclusion Strategy Turkey, Lebanon, and Jordan. Gaziantep: Kırkayak Kültür
{{DEFAULTSORT:Doms in Syria
Dom in the Middle East
Ethnic groups in Syria
Nawar people