Torbesh

The Torbesh are a Muslim Slav Macedonian peoples. The name is somewhat pejorative and means 'the bag carriers'. This is one of the informal names for Slav Macedonians who converted to Islam during the Ottoman period. Part of this same group only with a different name are also Gorani in Kosovo. Torbesh do not have very firm Macedonian national affiliations, nor a separate, Torbesh identity. The last Macedonian census of 2002 confirmed the deep split in the Torbesh community of the Republic of Macedonia, however, members of it declared themselves mainly as the Macedonian Muslims.

See also

• Cheveneburi
• Ajarians
• Greek Muslims
• Pomaks
• Pontian Greeks
• Hamshenis
• Gagauz

There is no Slavic Macedonian that converted to Islam or by prober call was forced to convert. The Torbesh is related to the Albanians and live in western Macedonia.