The
Domari-speaking (or rather, historically speaking) community in Syria, commonly identified as
Dom and
Nawar, 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
Aleppo is a city in Syria, which serves as the capital of the Aleppo Governorate, the most populous Governorates of Syria, governorate of Syria. With an estimated population of 2,098,000 residents it is Syria's largest city by urban area, and ...
, the Dom community is probably the largest, while they are reported to live in
Damascus
Damascus ( , ; ) is the capital and List of largest cities in the Levant region by population, largest city of Syria. It is the oldest capital in the world and, according to some, the fourth Holiest sites in Islam, holiest city in Islam. Kno ...
,
Homs
Homs ( ; ), known in pre-Islamic times as Emesa ( ; ), is a city in western Syria and the capital of the Homs Governorate. It is Metres above sea level, above sea level and is located north of Damascus. Located on the Orontes River, Homs is ...
and
Latakia
Latakia (; ; Syrian Arabic, Syrian pronunciation: ) is the principal port city of Syria and capital city of the Latakia Governorate located on the Mediterranean coast. Historically, it has also been known as Laodicea in Syria or Laodicea ad Mar ...
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, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...
via Persia. They seem to have been an
Indian nomadic
caste
A caste is a Essentialism, fixed social group into which an individual is born within a particular system of social stratification: a caste system. Within such a system, individuals are expected to marry exclusively within the same caste (en ...
specializing in metalwork and entertainment. The language is Indo-Aryan, closely related to
Central Indian and
Dardic languages
The Dardic languages (also Dardu or Pisaca), or Hindu-Kush Indo-Aryan languages, are a group of several Indo-Aryan languages spoken in northern Pakistan, northwestern India and parts of northeastern Afghanistan. This region has sometimes been re ...
. 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, 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 perceived ...
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.
See also
*
Doma (caste)
The Doma (), also known as ''Dom'', ''Domra'', ''Domba'', ''Domaka'', ''Dombara'' and ''Dombari'', are castes, or groups, scattered across India. The Doma/Dom were a caste of drummers. According to Tantra scriptures, the Dom were engaged in the ...
*
Doms in Iraq
*
Nawar people
The Dom (also called Domi; / ALA-LC: ', / , Ḍom / or , or sometimes also called Doms) are descendants of the Dom caste with origins in the Indian subcontinent, who through ancient migrations are found scattered across the Middle East and ...
References
Sources
*
*
*
*
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* 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