Deir al-Asafir
Deir al-Asafir (Arabic: دير العصافير; also spelled Dayr al-Assafir or Dair al-Asafir) is a village in southern Syria, administratively part of the Rif Dimashq Governorate, located 12 kilometers southeast of Damascus. It is situated in a heavily farmed area in the Ghouta region. Nearby localities include Babbila to the west, al-Malihah to the northwest, Zabdin to the north, Shabaa to the southwest.
Deir al-Asafir
دير العصافير Dayr al-Assafir | |
|---|---|
Village | |
Deir al-Asafir | |
| Coordinates: 33°27′55″N 36°25′11″E | |
| Country | Syria |
| Governorate | Rif Dimashq Governorate |
| District | Markaz Rif Dimashq |
| Nahiya | Al-Malihah Subdistrict |
| Population (2004) | |
| • Total | 6,209 |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (EEST) |
According to the Syria Central Bureau of Statistics, Deir al-Asafir had a population of 6,209 in the 2004 census. Between 1,000 and 1,500 Nawar (Syrians of Turkmen or Dom origin) reside in Deir al-Asafir. They largely reside in a quarter outside the village center. Much of the remaining population are Arab farmers. Starting in the 1960s some of Deir al-Asafir's Turkmen inhabitants also entered the field of agriculture. However, the majority of Turkmen men in work laborers, produce sellers and truck drivers. The hookah bars in tourist-frequented cafes in the Ghouta region is dominated by Turkmen waiters.