President Erdoğan Commemorates 161st Anniversary of Circassian Exile
Ankara, The Gulf Observer: President of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Wednesday commemorated the 161st anniversary of the Circassian Exile, honoring the memory of those who lost their lives during the forced expulsion of Circassians from their ancestral homeland in the North Caucasus.
“On the anniversary of the unjust, unlawful, and inhumane exile of our Circassian brothers from their homeland in the Caucasus, I pray for God’s mercy on those who lost their lives and sincerely share the indescribable pain experienced,” Erdoğan stated in a message posted on X (formerly Twitter).
The commemoration marks one of the darkest chapters in 19th-century history, as May 21, 2025, signals 161 years since the end of the Russo-Circassian War and the subsequent mass deportation of Circassians by the Russian Empire in 1864.
Between 800,000 and 1.5 million Circassians were forcibly removed from the North Caucasus, with the majority sent to the Ottoman Empire. The expulsion, carried out under harsh and inhumane conditions, resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands due to starvation, disease, and exposure during long marches and overcrowded sea journeys. The event is widely recognized by historians as one of the largest ethnic cleansings of the 19th century.
Today, descendants of those displaced Circassians reside across Türkiye, as well as in Syria, Jordan, and other parts of the Middle East. Each year on May 21, Circassian communities worldwide commemorate the tragedy, reflecting on the enduring impact of the forced exile on their identity and heritage.
President Erdoğan’s message underscores Türkiye’s recognition of the historical trauma endured by the Circassian people and reaffirms the country’s solidarity with Circassian communities both at home and abroad.
