Circassians in Iran

Circassians in Iran
Персым ис Адыгэхэр; چرکس های ایران
Total population
	Roughly estimated 50,000; Precise population unknown due to heavy assimilation and lack of censuses based on ethnicity. Second largest Caucasus-derived group in the nation.
Regions with significant populations
	Tehran, Gilan Province, Mazandaran Province, Rasht, East Azerbaijan Province, Fars Province, Isfahan, Aspas
Languages
	Mainly Persian, as well as Circassian in small amounts
Religion
	Islam

The Circassians in Iran^[a] are an ethnic minority in Iran. Circassians in Iran differ somewhat from other Circassian diasporas, in that most in the former stem from the Safavid and Qajar era, although a number migrated as muhajirs in the late 19th century as well. The Circassians in Iran were very influential during periods in the last few centuries. The vast majority of them have assimilated to speak the Persian language, and no significant number speak their native Circassian languages anymore.^[1] Once a very large minority in Iran, nowadays due to being heavily assimilated over the course of time and the lack of censuses based on ethnicity, population estimates vary significantly. They are, however, after the Georgians, known to be the largest Caucasus-derived group in the nation.

In Persian, the word Cherkes (چرکس /tʃeɾˈkes/) is sometimes applied generally to Caucasian peoples living beyond Derbent in Dagestan,^[4] which was the northernmost principal city of Iran prior to its ceding to Russia in the first half of the 19th century following the Treaty of Gulistan.

^ ^a ^b "International Circassian Association". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
^ ^a ^b Encyclopedia of the Peoples of Africa and the Middle East Facts On File, Incorporated ISBN 978-1438126760 p 141
^ Fredrik Thordarson, “Caucasus ii. Language contact. Caucasian languages in Iran,” EIr. V, 1990, pp. 94-95.
^ ^a ^b "ČARKAS". Archived from the original on 17 May 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2015.

Cite error: There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or {{efn}} templates on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} template or {{notelist}} template (see the help page).

[mcha.kbsu.ru-1] "International Circassian Association". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 28 April 2014.

[books.google.nl-2] Encyclopedia of the Peoples of Africa and the Middle East Facts On File, Incorporated ISBN 978-1438126760 p 141

[3] Fredrik Thordarson, “Caucasus ii. Language contact. Caucasian languages in Iran,” EIr. V, 1990, pp. 94-95.

[ČARKAS-4] "ČARKAS". Archived from the original on 17 May 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2015.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[a]

Персым ис Адыгэхэр چرکس های ایران
Total population
Roughly estimated 50,000 Precise population unknown due to heavy assimilation and lack of censuses based on ethnicity.^[1]^[2]^[3] Second largest Caucasus-derived group in the nation.^[2]
Regions with significant populations
Tehran, Gilan Province, Mazandaran Province, Rasht, East Azerbaijan Province, Fars Province,^[4] Isfahan, Aspas
Languages
Mainly Persian, as well as Circassian in small amounts
Religion
Islam