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Eternal Outsiders – the Roma in SyriaEternal Outsiders – the Roma in Syria

The term “gypsy” has been used throughout history in a pejorative way and is recognized by many members of the Dom community and researchers to be a derogatory term, particularly in Europe where they are known as the Roma people. Some members of Syrian society use the Arabic equivalent of the term, which is “Ghajar;” however, “Dom,” the equivalent of “Roma,” is also used. As one of the ethnic groups that are most vulnerable to discrimination and persecution around the world, this community is considered a prominent ambiguous, diverse, and unrecognized group in Syria. They are known for practicing various professions, such as playing musical instruments, fortune telling, singing, and others; who are the Dom? So, what threat are we exactly facing? And what opportunity lies ahead? How can past mistakes be avoided? What is the most appropriate discourse style? This post seeks to address several issues that are directly related to ongoing social movement in Syria, in the hope of establishing a common ground on which everyone, as Syrians, can stand to engage in a meaningful discussion.

Name & Origin
They’re culturally and racially diverse groups that have immigrated centuries ago from regions in India and Pakistan to different parts of the world. They have special traits, the most prominent of which is continuous traveling. They’re known in Syria by many terms, such as “Nawar”, “Qurbat” or “Zatt”, which are unfortunately derogatory and insulting terms used by residents of the region. However, the most popular and respectful of names other than “Gypsies”, is “Roma” in Europe, “Lom” in the Anatolia & Black Sea region, and “Dom” in South West Asia & North Africa (the singular of which is Domari). The three terms translate to “Human” or “Person” in their mother tongue. In Syria, the proper term used is “Domari”, rooted in the Indo-European languages of the Dom.

Lifestyle & Cultures as Reasons for Marginalization

The condescending view on Doms isn’t new nor is it limited to Syria, as their nomadic lifestyle is what historically placed them in an inferior position through the eyes of established societies. The fear of nomad tribes dates back to the beginning of civilization. Some scriptures in Syria have titled them as a “Group” regardless of their differences. Where Dom have their own isolated community who often believe strangers as a source of corruption, and contacting with them, partaking in their wars and affairs or inter-marriage may affect the purity and cleanliness of their spirits. However, this closedness doesn’t include trading, learning the language and music of their adopted homes and foreign cultures.

Modern Politics & Borders

As a result of their nomadic lifestyle, which knew no borders, the establishment of modern day borders and zoning in the early 20th century (and resulting political complications), has led to depriving them of political representation, government jobs, and most importantly, obtaining the nationality of the state they reside in along with its perks. Furthermore, their Indo-Aryan ethnicity and their unfamiliar Domari language pushed them to isolation.

Some Domari tribes in Syria rely on the manufacturing of food equipment and household utensils, but industrial developments have been a source of competition, forcing them to pursue other fields in order to survive, such as sorting garbage waste. “Jeweler” Dom depend on fixing the teeth of villagers, usually by replacing them with golden or silver prosthetics. This difficulty in their pursuit for careers heavily contributed to the general understanding people in Syria have of them, where Dom are associated with jobs that are frowned upon, usually in nightclubs and festivals, as palm readers, and beggars in the cities.

Dom in the Heritage of Damascus

“Al-Zatt” neighborhood: located in Inner-Shaghour district of Old Damascus, which was inhabited by a Hindu practicing community from the Punjab region of India who are called Jat people. However, This did not sit well with the natives of Old Damascus, who arabized the word “Jat” and started referring to the neighborhood as Al-Zatt.

A few common Damascenes proverbs are associated with them, such as:
“Not even a Domari!”: During the late Ottoman period in Damascus, it was believed that, usually, a Domari had the duty of lighting street lanterns at night, and putting them out in the morning. Therefore, this commonly-used proverb is used to express that a street is completely empty of pedestrians, since those in charge of the lanterns were the first in and last ones out of a street. “From Al-Zatt neighborhood a Muazzen has come out”: Said when a good person comes from a bad family. Where Muazzen means the man who performs the call to prayer.

Dom in Today’s Syria

Dozens of Domari tribes in Syria have sought refuge in neighboring countries; facing continuous marginalization in or outside of camps due to a lack of official documents confirming their identities. No clear policies or support exists to preserve their culture and lifestyle, nor are there accurate statistics for their population today, which before the war numbered between 100-500 thousand (roughly 1%) situated in rural communities along the borders and in the outskirts of villages. Many Dom in Syria have ceased their nomadic lifestyle, as the war has forced them into stabilization and threatens them with cultural extinction.