What is "kawliya"

The Kawliya ( Arabic,كاولية or كاولي) are Romani people (gypsies) from Iraq. Kawliya are known for their dancers and music.

Kawliya is also the name of a village, located about 100 miles southeast of Baghdad, where Gypsies live. The village was reportedly destroyed by a militia controlled by a militant Shiite Muslim cleric. The exact circumstances are not clear.