Ethnic Groups in Vojvodina - Ashkali

Ashkali

• Ashkali (Ashkaliye, Aškalije) – There were 287 ethnic Ashkali in Novi Sad city according to the 2002 census. Ashkali previously were regarded as part of Roma nationality, but now they are recognized as a separate ethnic group. Ashkali mostly live in Kosovo and speak Albanian. According to one of the theories of their origin, they are descendants of Roma who are said to have come to the Balkans from Palestine (their name deriving from Ashkelon, a city in Israel).