Hussein Shobokshi -11/02/2014
Translated from Arabic by: Zaina Bashqawi
What combines the following names: Toujan Faisal (first female member in the Jordanian Parliament) , Taroub (the singer) , Amjad Qourshah (the young Islamic preacher) , Saeed Al Mufti (who served as a prime minister of Jordan four times) , in Egypt, Ali Maher Pasha (who also served as a prime minister of Egypt for four times), the late Queen Farida of Egypt, General Mohammed Fawzi (former Egyptian Defense Minister), Hussein Fahmi and Mustafa Fahmi (actors), and in Syria, the great Islamic scholar Jawdat Said, Najdat Anzor (a pioneer in the Syrian film industry), Dr. Moaath Othman(a pioneer in gynecology and obstetrics), and in Iraq, Naji Shawkat (Iraqi Prime Minister), Mohammed Hussein Daghistani (journalist) and Tariq Al-Hashemi (Iraqi Vice President) .. They are all of Circassian origin.
These days as the world is watching the Olympic Games events that are held in Sochi, people remember the Circassians. Sochi was the capital of their country. This city that suffered a history of bloodshed for more than 150 years…
Circassians are an ethnic group from the North Caucasus, a region in the south-west of modern Russia between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea. The hearts of the Circassians around the world are filled with bitterness and pain, because these Olympics are held on the 150th anniversary of the massacre committed against them that led to the death of thousands and the displacement of thousands more, all of which had been under the command of the Tsarist forces, which ruled Russia with an iron fist at that time. And the suffering increases when the Circassians are reminded with their tragedy daily during the Olympics; as the most important skiing competitions will be held in a neighboring city called "Krasnaya Polyana”, meaning: «The Red Hill» , and the origin of the name attributed to the blood spilled by the «invading Russians» who killed Circassians, according to historical events. For the Circassians, this land was «the last main battlefield in their history» according to historians of the Circassian history, and therefore it holds a special and sacred place in their hearts, like Waterloo to the English and Gettysburg to Americans. And what angers the Circassians even more, as they reside in Diaspora, scattered around the world in staggering numbers, that the Russian government and President Putin refuse to mention in anyway the Circassian history of the city and the region, giving the impression that they persist to condemn the crimes committed against them, mainly because the "Ethnic Cleansing” that they endured and caused their displacement was not simple and forced them to settle in Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Egypt, Libya, Palestine, Germany, Canada , and other countries, in massive numbers . Therefore, there were a number of protest campaigns by Circassian communities around the world in front of Russian embassies and the headquarters of the United Nations, condemning the holding the Olympic Games on their land, and reminding the world of the massacre and the ethnic cleansing that was committed against them. Not only did the Circassians condemn, demonstrate, protest and rally; but groups of them launched an electronic war against Russian sites on the Internet, taking advantage of the international sympathy with the Circassian Cause and their tragedy and to embarrass the Russians through exploiting this important global event that has an exceptional international attention.
There are other violent extremist groups inside Russia, that tried to take advantage of this issue to recruit «allies and supporters» for «the ultimate goal», but their call did not receive any interaction, and it was the bombing that happened in the city of Volgograd, before the launch of the Olympic Games, as a message of terrorism launched by these extremists to exploit the situation of the Circassians and their tragedy, criminal act of terrorism, which claimed the lives of innocent people.
The Circassian issue and highlighting the tragedy of what happened to them through the sad years that passed is a moral and humanitarian historical issue that needs to be clarified and set forth to the world. Circassians have influenced every place they settled in; with their fine morals, social integration, distinguished nationalism and ethics. They stand out in all fields they work in because they carry out the qualities of manners, loyalty, obedience, solidarity, commitment, moderation and tolerance, so they earn respect and love from all who know and deal with them, and the appreciation of the countries they live in. Therefore, it is natural that there is a clear sympathy for the sad tragedy that struck a decent nation.
It is difficult to see the world celebrate, dance and sing on the land where blood of the innocent was shed without any sign of recognition. And to say the least, it is morally and humanly unacceptable.
Source: http://m.aawsat.com/item/1392079521435083700
