Torbesh

Macedonian Muslims
Македонци-муслимани
Makedonci-muslimani

Female folk dance of Macedonian Muslims in the village of Gorno Kosovrasti, near Debar
Total population
40,000–100,000 (2010) 39,555 (1981)
Regions with significant populations
Languages
Macedonian
Religion
Islam
Related ethnic groups
Other Macedonians

40,000–100,000 (2010)

The Macedonian Muslims (Macedonian: Македонци-муслимани, Makedonci-muslimani), also known as Muslim Macedonians or Torbeši, (Macedonian: Торбеши) and in older sources grouped together with Pomaks, are a minority religious group within the community of ethnic Macedonians who are Muslims (primarily Sunni, with Sufism being widespread among the population). They have been culturally distinct from the majority Orthodox Christian Macedonian community for centuries, and are linguistically distinct from the larger Muslim ethnic groups in Macedonia: the Albanians, Turks and Roms. The regions inhabited by these Slavic-speaking Muslims are Debarska Župa, Drimkol, Reka, and Golo Brdo (in Albania).

The Macedonian Muslims are largely the descendants of Orthodox Christian Slavs from the region of Macedonia who converted to Islam during the centuries when the Ottoman Empire ruled the Balkans. The various Sufi orders (like the Khalwati, Rifa'is and Qadiris) all played a role in the conversion of the Macedonian and Paulician population.