- Ashkali
Ethnic group
group=Ashkali
poptime=2,000 - 6,000
popplace=Kosovo Albania Montenegro Serbia
langs=Albanian language
rels=PredominantlyIslam .
related=Roma and other Indo-Aryan peoplesThe Ashkali (also "Aschkali", "Hashkali", "Aškalije" (Ашкалије), "Haškalije" (Хашкалије)) are an Albanian speaking ethnic minority of
Kosovo andAlbania .Their origin is disputed. The Ashkali are often regarded as Albanized Roma, but some think they are descendants of Turks or Egyptians.Fact|date=November 2007 Ashkali have similar culture to both Roma and
Albanians . There is a theory that Ashkali are descendants of Roma who are said to have come to theBalkans fromPalestine (their name being deriving fromAshkelon , a city inIsrael ).More certain is the actual basis for the Ashkali's continued existence as a modern ethnic group. Though it is certain that their ancestors originated outside the Balkans, the population speak Albanian as a first language. As the loss of language has scathed their identity, it is their lifestyle and custom and sense of community which has prevented them from fully assimilating the Albanian and Slavic nations who surround them.
In Kosovo, the Ashkali appeared to be aligned with Albanians before the
Kosovo War . However, there were reports of mass expulsion of Ashkali along with Roma from Kosovo that took place after the war [ [http://www.gfbv.it/2c-stampa/2005/050201en.html "Memorandum of the Society for Threatened People on the Issue of Lead Poisoning of Roma in IDP Camps in Kosovo"] , "GFBV".] . Many Ashkali refugees settled inCentral Serbia andVojvodina .References
ee also
Ashkali organizations and institutions
*
Democratic Ashkali Party of Kosovo
*Matica Aškalija inNovi Sad ,Vojvodina
* [http://zeljko-heimer-fame.from.hr/descr/cs-m.html#cs-m-as Ashkali flag at FAME]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
