Latest news with #Circassian
New York Post
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
UK Royal Ballet and Opera cancels Tel Aviv ‘Tosca' after protest
The United Kingdom's Royal Ballet and Opera has cancelled its planned 2026 production of 'Tosca' at the Israeli Opera in Tel Aviv, following internal protest over the organization's stance on Gaza, The Guardian reported on Monday. The decision follows an open letter signed by 182 staff members, including dancers and musicians, criticizing the company's ties to Israel amid the ongoing conflict. The staff demanded that the organization refrain from supporting institutions that legitimize a state engaged in 'crimes against humanity.' The letter does not mention the mass atrocities committed by Hamas against civilians in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, including the murder of 1,200 people and the kidnapping of 251 others. Nor does it reference the hostages still being held in dire conditions by terrorists in the Strip. Advertisement 6 The United Kingdom's Royal Ballet and Opera has cancelled its planned 2026 production of 'Tosca' at the Israeli Opera in Tel Aviv. Alastair Muir/Shutterstock 6 King Charles III and Queen Camilla at a Royal Ballet performance. Getty Images 6 Alex Beard accepting the Outstanding Achievement in Opera award. Getty Images For SOLT Advertisement R.B.O. Chief Executive Alex Beard confirmed the decision in an internal message acknowledging staff concerns, stating, 'We have made the decision that our new production of Tosca will not be going to Israel.' The Israeli Opera's website no longer mentions the Royal Opera House, which is the main theatrical home of the Royal Ballet and Opera, located in the Covent Garden district of central London. The signatories accused the Jewish state of committing an ongoing genocide in Gaza—a charge that Jerusalem vehemently denies. The letter also cites that the Tel Aviv venue publicly offers free tickets to Israeli Defense Forces soldiers. 6 The letter does not mention the mass atrocities committed by Hamas against civilians in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Corbis via Getty Images Advertisement 6 The Israeli Opera's website no longer mentions the Royal Opera House, which is the main theatrical home of the Royal Ballet and Opera, located in the Covent Garden district of central London. SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images 6 Tea dance at the Royal Opera House in London. AFP via Getty Images 'The RBO is clearly making a strong political statement by allowing its production and intellectual property to be presented in a space that openly rewards and legitimizes the very forces responsible for the daily killings of civilians in Gaza,' the letter reads. Advertisement Israel mandates military service in the IDF for all citizens over 18 who are Jewish, Druze or Circassian, with some significant exceptions. The letter also expresses solidarity with a cast member at London's Royal Opera House who unfurled a PLO flag during the final curtain call of Giuseppe Verdi's 'Il trovatore' on July 19.
OC Media
31-07-2025
- Politics
- OC Media
Why I'm begging the universe for Azerbaijan not to recognise the Circassian Genocide
Join the voices Aliyev wants to silence. For over eight years, OC Media has worked with fearless journalists from Azerbaijan — some of whom now face decades behind bars — to bring you the stories the regime is afraid will get out. Help us fuel Aliyev's fears — become an OC Media member today Become a member Yes, I'm back again with yet another newsletter about the Circassian Genocide. I promise, I'm not trying to meet any quotas and Robin is not forcing me to write these at gunpoint. I've just been in a perpetual state of annoyance ever since I read this article on APA, an Azerbaijani pro-government media outlet, about how important it was for the world to recognise the Circassian Genocide as 'another stain on Russia'. Important context: APA's content is objectively not journalism — it's drivel dictated by the government that has laid total waste to independent media in the country, rendering the scene virtually barren. This article was born out of an ongoing diplomatic row between Baku and Moscow, which began in December last year after the fatal crash in Kazakhstan's Aktau of an Azerbaijani Airlines (AZAL) flight headed from Baku to Grozny. In the months following the crash, Azerbaijan has gone from hinting at Russia possibly having shot down the plane to straight up accusing it of doing so and covering up its tracks. The dramatic fallout between the two peaked in June, with the two countries detaining quite a few of each other's citizens. Azerbaijani pro-government media was locked and loaded, regularly generating criticism of Russia. There is no shadow of a doubt that this APA article on the Circassian Genocide is part of that campaign. It quite extensively details the events leading up to the genocide and its impact on the North Caucasus and the Circassians — the vast majority of whom were exiled from the region. It criticises Russia's refusal to acknowledge the genocide and it's eradication of the Circassian language, culture, and historical memory. Advertisement It says Azerbaijan and the Circassians were bound together by 'collective traumas caused by imperial policies' — either the Russian Empire's or the Soviet Union's. It notes that Circassian diaspora organisations in Turkey were among the first to not only express condolences to Azerbaijan over the AZAL crash, but they also condemned the act 'as another example of imperial violence and disregard for law', declaring that 'Russian imperial brutality is not just the pain of one nation, but a shared grief for all peoples of the region'. It also claims that interest in the Circassian Genocide in Azerbaijan was growing among local media, researchers, and civil society activists — all driven closer by the shared suffering wrought on them by Russia. Could this be a sign that Azerbaijan might recognise the genocide? Gosh, I certainly hope not. We've seen Azerbaijan tout its championing of oppressed indigenous peoples' rights before with its targeting of Western European nations with brutal colonial histories — most notably France, which openly and staunchly supports Armenia. In that absurd episode, we saw France accuse Azerbaijan of supporting riots in one of its overseas territories, New Caledonia, claiming that Baku 'made a deal' with Caledonian pro-independence leaders. In the months since, we've seen an evidently government-linked Baku Initiative Group host a variety of seminars and conferences decrying the effects of European colonialism on indigenous people around the world. While I recognise that the recognition of other nations' tragedies will always be political in nature, I do want to see more countries recognise it, as with Ukraine's own recognition of the Circassian Genocide earlier this year or Georgia's recognition in 2011. However, I believe an Azerbaijani recognition will do the cause more harm than good. Aside from it coming from nowhere, it would be based on a disingenuous 'anti-colonial' narrative, made even more absurd by Azerbaijan's own miserable track record. Let's not forget the Aliyev regime continues to oppress its own indigenous Talysh population and that it ethnically cleansed Nagorno-Karabakh of Armenians in September 2023. On the global stage, Azerbaijan also materially supports the Israeli warmachine in its ongoing genocide of Palestinians in Gaza. Would the Circassians celebrate an Azerbaijani recognition? Err, possibly, but that remains to be seen, and I'll sleep better if it was met with condemnation instead.
Ammon
21-05-2025
- General
- Ammon
Circassians mark Day of Mourning with cultural commemoration
Ammon News - Every year on May 21, the Circassian community in Jordan joins Circassians around the world in commemorating the Day of Mourning — a solemn remembrance of the end of the Caucasian War in 1864. This year, the Circassian Charity Association (CCA) hosts a commemoration in Amman, bringing together community members in traditional dress to honour their ancestors, share oral histories and reaffirm cultural identity through dance, food and storytelling. A cultural cornerstone Founded in 1932, the CCA is one of the oldest community institutions in Jordan. 'The association was established by Circassian students who had studied at Al-Azhar University in Cairo,' said Ibrahim Ishaqat, president of the CCA. He noted that the association currently has around 7,000 members and operates several branches across the Kingdom, including a dedicated women's branch. Its headquarters in Amman houses a number of key facilities such as a traditional kitchen, a cultural and conference hall, a library, a school, and training centres. Tradition in practice In the association's kitchen, traditional dishes are prepared regularly for community events. Among the most iconic is chepse and pasta — a hearty Circassian dish made from bulgur, flour and other staple ingredients, often served on special occasions as a symbol of hospitality and cultural pride. These culinary traditions are passed down through generations and serve as a key expression of cultural pride. Music and dance are also essential components of community life. The Qafa dance, for example, is a signature Circassian group dance characterised by upright posture, precise steps and circular movements. It is often performed during weddings and formal gatherings to symbolise unity, discipline and grace. Voices of continuity For many Circassians, cultural preservation begins at home. 'We speak our native language at home to keep it alive for the younger generations,' said Sirine Shhlatough, an elder member of the association. 'I teach my grandchildren to respect elders and women — these are Circassian values. We also hold gatherings to share our stories and keep our culture alive,' she added. These personal efforts complement the institutional role played by the CCA in providing a platform for community engagement and intergenerational exchange. A legacy of leadership Ishaqat also highlighted prominent Circassian figures like former prime minister SaeedMufti and minister Wasfi Mirza have been associated with the CCA, reflecting the community's contributions to Jordan's development while maintaining cultural distinctiveness. A living heritage As Jordanian Circassians mark the Day of Mourning each year, the event serves not only as a memorial, but also as a celebration of cultural resilience. Through language, dance, cuisine and values, the CCA plays a vital role in safeguarding cultural identity and ensuring it is passed on to future generations. Jordan Times
Shafaq News
09-03-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
'unprecedented" plan: Israel to allow Druze from Syria to work in Israel
Shafaq News/ On Sunday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced an "unprecedented" aid plan for Druze in Syria, including allowing them to work in Israel. "We will soon allow Druze workers from Syria to come and work in towns in the Golan Heights," Katz said, emphasizing that the government is now approving an "unprecedented" aid plan for the Druze and Circassian communities in Israel, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. Katz praised the Druze for their "loyalty, courage, and contributions to Israel's security during critical times," vowing that Israel would continue to support them and protect their 'brothers' in Syria from any threats. An estimated 700,000-800,000 Druze live in Syria, mostly in southwestern areas near Israel and Jordan. On Saturday, the defense minister stated that Israel would work to keep southern Syria free of weapons and threats, pledging to protect the Druze population in the region. "Anyone who harms them will face our response," he warned. Katz's remarks coincide with the ongoing bloodshed in the country's western coastal region since Thursday, which has resulted in over 830 civilian deaths. He warned against escalating violence, accusing "al-Julani's group," affiliated with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), of committing a "massacre" against Alawite residents in the area, referring to Syria's transitional President, Ahmad Al-Sharaa.
