Xoraxane (also spelled as Khorakhane, Khorakhanè, Horahane, Kharokane, Xoraxai, etc.) is a historical umbrella term to refer to the Muslim Roma population in the Balkans,[1] or alternatively, all Muslim Roma in the areas of Southern Europe and West Asia.[2] They are non-Vlax Romani people, who adopted Sunni Islam of the Hanafi madhhab at the time of the Ottoman Empire.[3] They are colloquially referred to as Lovers of the Koran. There are several subgroups Roma considered to be Xoraxane Roma, named after their old traditional professional activities, also divived in sedentary and nomadic groups.[2]
Some of them are Derviş of Sufism belief, and the biggest Tariqa of Jerrahi is located at the largest Arlije and Gurbeti Muslim Roma settlement in Europe in Šuto Orizari; locally called Shutka in North Macedonia, they have their own Romani Imam[4] and the Muslim Roma in Šuto Orizari use the Quran in Balkan Romani language.[5] The majority of Muslim Roma in the former Yugoslavia speak Balkan Romani and South Slavic languages, while many speak only the language from the host countries. The Albanized Muslim Roma groups from Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro and North Macedonia, speak only the Albanian language and are called Khorakhan Shiptari; they have fully adopted the Albanian culture.[6] Others have created their own identity like Ashkali and Balkan Egyptians, and some deny their Romani background, especially in Kosovo and are claimed to be Albanians or Turks.[7][8]