Chechens of Jordan are Chechens who have inhabited Jordan since the expulsion of Caucasians in the 19th century. Chechens have played an important role in the foundation of

Jordan Jordan ( ar, الأردن; tr. ' ), officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan,; tr. ' is a country in Western Asia. It is situated at the crossroads of Asia, Africa, and Europe, within the Levant region, on the East Bank of the Jordan Rive ...

as a modern state.

History

Expulsion

In the second half of the 19th century, the

Russian Empire The Russian Empire was an empire and the final period of the Russian monarchy from 1721 to 1917, ruling across large parts of Eurasia. It succeeded the Tsardom of Russia following the Treaty of Nystad, which ended the Great Northern War. ...

was fighting the peoples of the Caucasus in an expansionist war, known as the

Caucasian War The Caucasian War (russian: Кавказская война; ''Kavkazskaya vojna'') or Caucasus War was a 19th century military conflict between the Russian Empire and various peoples of the North Caucasus who resisted subjugation during the ...

. One of the outcomes of the war was that many native peoples of the Caucasus were forcefully expelled to the

Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire, * ; is an archaic version. The definite article forms and were synonymous * and el, Оθωμανική Αυτοκρατορία, Othōmanikē Avtokratoria, label=none * info page on book at Martin Luther University) ...

. An estimated 5,000 Chechen families were expelled to the Ottoman Empire. In March 1903, the Ottoman authorities sent the first 700 Chechen families to the region of

Transjordan Transjordan may refer to: * Transjordan (region), an area to the east of the Jordan River * Oultrejordain, a Crusader lordship (1118–1187), also called Transjordan * Emirate of Transjordan, British protectorate (1921–1946) * Hashemite Kingdom of ...

. The Chechens settlers chose to settle non-populated areas most suitable for agriculture and close to water sources. These settlers founded

Zarqa Zarqa ( ar, الزرقاء) is the capital of Zarqa Governorate in Jordan. Its name means "the blue (city)". It had a population of 635,160 inhabitants in 2015, and is the most populous city in Jordan after Amman. Geography Zarqa is located in t ...

, Jordan's second largest city.

Foundation of the Emirate of Transjordan

In October 1920, after establishing the

Emirate of Transjordan The Emirate of Transjordan ( ar, إمارة شرق الأردن, Imārat Sharq al-Urdun, Emirate of East Jordan), officially known as the Amirate of Trans-Jordan, was a British protectorate established on 11 April 1921,

, the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

mobilized a "mobile force" under the command of Captain

Frederick Gerard Peake Major General Frederick Gerard Peake, (12 June 1886 – 30 March 1970), known as Peake Pasha, was a British Army and police officer and creator of the Arab Legion. Military career The son of Lieutenant Colonel Walter Peake, of Melton Mowbray, ...

to defend the territory against both internal and external threats. The Mobile Force was based in

. 80% of its men were drawn from the local Chechen community.

Military and political representation

Chechens are heavily represented in the

Jordanian armed forces The Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF) ( ar, الْقُوَّاتُ الْمُسَلَّحَةُ الأرْدُنِية, romanized: ''Al-Quwwat Al-Musallaha Al-Urduniyya''), also referred to as the Arab Army ( ar, الْجَيْشُ الْعَرَب� ...

and intelligence apparatus since the foundation of the

. Chechens and

Circassians The Circassians (also referred to as Cherkess or Adyghe; Adyghe and Kabardian: Адыгэхэр, romanized: ''Adıgəxər'') are an indigenous Northwest Caucasian ethnic group and nation native to the historical country-region of Circassia ...

are mandated 3 seats in the Jordanian house of representatives, currently two of those seats are held by Chechens.

Organizations

* The largest Chechen organization in Jordan is the Chechen Charity Society, founded in 1958. The headquarters of the company is located in the city of

. The society has branches in places where significant numbers of Chechens live. * The sports club ''Caucasus'' was founded in 1932 by Chechens from Zarqa, and has made a significant contribution to the development of football, table tennis, handball, and swimming in Jordan. * In 1981, the Women’s Chechen Charity Society was established, the organization is active among the Chechen community and holds regular cultural and charitable events.

Notable Chechens from Jordan

* Arslan Alaudin — major general in the Royal Jordanian Army, and two times Hero of Jordan recipient. * Muhammed Bashir ash-Shishani — major general in the Jordanian Army, former minister of Agriculture, mayor of Amman and director of Military intelligence. * Abdul Baqi Jammoh — influential person among the Chechen community in Jordan, minister of Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, and Religious Affairs of Jordan. * Ahmad Ramzi — general in the

Jordanian Armed forces The Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF) ( ar, الْقُوَّاتُ الْمُسَلَّحَةُ الأرْدُنِية, romanized: ''Al-Quwwat Al-Musallaha Al-Urduniyya''), also referred to as the Arab Army ( ar, الْجَيْشُ الْعَرَب� ...

, minister of Interior of Jordan. He was also a friend of the first Jordanian King. *

Mohammad Omar Shishani Mohammad Omar Shishani ( ar, محمد عمر شيشاني) (born April 24, 1989) is a Jordan Jordan ( ar, الأردن; tr. ' ), officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan,; tr. ' is a country in Western Asia. It is situated at the crossr ...

— football player, striker for Al-Faisaly.

References

{{Demographics of Jordan Ethnic groups in Jordan Chechen diaspora Ethnic groups in the Middle East