Ali Çingene (Saint)

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

Shahid Ali Bey Çingene Lance-Corporal, Distinguished Gallantry Medal
Born	August the 2nd 1925 a Romani traveller camp, City of Industry, Sharifistan
Residence	nomadic
Died	August the 5th 1946 Madinat Al-Islam, Sharifistan
Venerated in	Sufi Islam (especially amongst Sharifistani Roma
Feast	August the 5th
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 or genre	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-Romanlar (leader of the Romani community) and the local Mayor as well as his family and a number of Islamic religious leaders.