ON THE MIGRATION OF THE BALKAN MUSLIMS AND OF THE 'NASHINCI' - THE TORBESH, POMAKS AND OTHER (TURKS) IN TURKEY

Abstract

A large population of "Nashinci", Macedonians with Islamic faith that live abroad are located in Turkey. This diaspora was created out of economic and political reasons, especially in certain crisis periods, wars and expulsion from the territory of ethnic Macedonia in the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century. It is disturbing that in the '50ties and '60ties of the 20th century, during the Socialistic Federative Republic of Yugoslavia, there was a huge migration of Macedonians with Islamic faith towards Turkey. Whole colonies of "Nashinci" can be found in cities such as Istanbul, Izmir, Bursa etc. as well as the smaller ones as Akisar, Manisa etc. They are still speaking their mother tongue and cherish their culture in a relatively close circle.