View source for Ali Çingene (Saint)

Naib Naik (Lance-Corporal) Ali Çingene was a [[Sharifistani Roma|Sharifistani Romani]] soldier and Sufi Muslim who was revered as saint due to his piety and his death at the hands of bride-kidnappers. 

{{Infobox saint
| honorific_prefix= Shahid 
| name = Ali Çingene 
| honorific_suffix=  Lance-Corporal, Distinguished Gallantry Medal 
| image = 
| imagesize = 
| alt = 
| caption = 
| birth_date = August the 2nd 1925
| birth_place = a Romani traveller camp, City of Industry, [[Sharifistan]]
| residence = nomadic
| death_date = August the 5th 1946
| death_place = Madinat Al-Islam, [[Sharifistan]]
| venerated_in = Sufi Islam (especially amongst [[Sharifistani Roma]]
| feast_day = August the 5th
| attributes = 
| patronage = [[Sharifistani Roma]], the [[Royal City of Industry Rifles]], traditional oil wrestling, soldiers, women, protection against kidnapping, 
| influenced = [[Romani in the Sharifistani military]], [[Bey Çingene (Sharifistan)]]
| tradition = Muslim Roma 
}}

'''Early life'''

Born on the 2nd of August 1925, the son of farm-worker Süleyman Çingene and his wife Aisha Çingene in a Romani Traveller camp in the City of Industry, [[Sharifistan]]. He was known for his piety from a young age and admired for it (almost all Sharifistani Roma are Muslims). He was unusual for a Romani traveller at the time in that he was literate. He made a living as shepherd until he was 18.

'''Military service'''

 At the age of 18 he enlisted in the [[Royal City of Industry Rifles]] in 1943 and fought in the Second World War. He received the Distinguished Gallantry Medal for his action and returned home on leave in 1946 to a hero's welcome. 

'''Death'''

Some men, also Romani, from another settlement were attempting to kidnap his younger sister Aisha Çingene (14 years of age), he tried to chase them away with his military-issue rifle but was shot dead. His funeral was attended by the [[Bey-nin-Çingene (Sharifistan)|Bey-nin-Çingene]] (leader of the Romani community) and the local Mayor as well as his family and a number of Islamic religious leaders.

[[Category:Sharifistani saints]]