Northern Kurd in Azerbaijan


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Subgroups: 17 (10 largest shown)  Show all

Subgroup Name Population
Baba'I Kurd Unknown
Dumbuli Kurd Unknown
Farukhkan Kurd Unknown
Galtri Kurd Unknown
Haydaran Kurd Unknown
Jelali Kurd Unknown
Jevanshir Kurd Unknown
Juniki Kurd Unknown
Khajavand Kurd Unknown
Kolani Kurd Unknown

Introduction / History

The Kurds are one of the largest ethno-linguistic people group in the world without their own nation. Some Kurds in Azerbaijan speak Azerbaijani at home while others still speak Northern Kurdish or Kurmanji. Almost all also speak Russian which is helpful in their business contacts.


Where Are they Located?

The homeland of the Kurds is in the Middle East, northwestern Iran, southeastern Turkey and the northern sections of Iraq and Syria. After WWII Kurds began to migrate from the violence and turmoil of their native land to other countries. Some migrated to the former Central Asian Soviet Republics including Azerbaijan.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Kurds living in the former Soviet countries are among the most prosperous citizens. They face little or no discrimination, and many even hold high political offices, work as professionals and own large businesses. They enjoy the use of utilities, roads, housing, and medical facilities that would be considered "luxurious" in their homeland of Kurdistan. The traditional occupation of the Kurds in their homeland was that of nomadic herding of goats and sheep. An enormous number of Kurds have assimilated into the local Azerbaijani culture, and most of them identify the Azeri language as their native tongue. Family is an essential part of Kurdish culture. The relationship between family members is close. The clan and community are more important than the individual in traditional Kurdish society. The Kurdish father is the traditional head of the home. The groom's family must pay a bride price to the relatives of the bride because she becomes officially part of the groom's family after the wedding. Traditionally a Kurdish man and woman in love could not marry without both their families' permission. It has always been unthinkable for an unmarried Kurdish couple to live together. A woman in Kurdistan was not considered an adult unless she was married and had children. In Azerbaijan a Kurdish woman may pursue a professional career and not marry. Kurdish women and girls are raised to dress modestly. Dressing immodestly would dishonor her family. Azerbaijani Kurds tend to live in nuclear families while in Kurdistan, the land of the Kurds, they lived in extended families up to four generations under the one roof. Respecting older people is integral part of Kurdish culture. Hospitality and family honor are significant features. Kurdish families in Azerbaijan have faced pressures to change. Maintaining Kurdish values and adapting to Azerbaijani culture is a difficult balancing act every Kurdish person living in Azerbaijan must face.


What Are Their Beliefs?

About 75% of the world's Kurds claim to be Sunni Muslims. Smaller Kurdish groups include Shia, Sufi, Christian and Yazidi. Kurdish religion is affected by the Azerbaijani majority; almost all Kurds worldwide are Sunni Muslims, but those in Azerbaijan adhere to Shi'ite Islam. Sunni Kurds try to obey the teachings of the Koran and the prophet Mohammad. They believe that by following the Five Pillars of Islam that they will attain heaven when they die. However, Allah, the supreme God of the universe, determines who enters paradise. Sunnis pray five times a day facing Mecca. They fast the month of Ramadan. They attend mosque services on Friday. If a Muslim has the means, he or she will make a pilgrimage to Mecca once in his or her lifetime. The two main holidays for Sunni Muslims are Eid al Fitr, the breaking of the monthly fast and Eid al Adha, the celebration of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son to Allah. The Kurdish New Year on March 21 is celebrated as a major holiday by all Kurds regardless of religion.


What Are Their Needs?

The Kurds living in Azerbaijan must understand that biblical Christianity is not just a Western religion. They must see that their good works and devotion to family will not gain them the forgiveness of their sins or eternal life. Newly arrived Kurds need to learn Azerbaijani and job skills in order to fit into their new nation.


Prayer Points

Pray the Lord leads Azerbaijani and Iranian believers to build friendships with Kurds and tell them about their Savior. Pray that God creates a hunger for the Bible and spiritual truth in the hearts of the Kurdish people living in Azerbaijan. Ask God to raise up a Disciple Making Movement among Azerbaijani Kurds in this decade. Pray that Kurdish leaders are willing to investigate the claims of Jesus Christ.


Scripture Prayers for the Kurd, Kurmanji in Azerbaijan.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Kurd, Kurmanji
People Name in Country Kurd, Kurmanji
Natural Name Northern Kurd
Pronunciation kerd
Alternate Names Kermanji; Kurmanji; Turkish Kurd; Yazidi; Yezidi; Behdini
Population this Country 53,000
Population all Countries 14,705,000
Total Countries 33
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 12877
ROP3 Code 105458
ROP25 Code 304412
ROP25 Name Kurd
Affinity Bloc Persian-Median
People Cluster Kurd
People Group Kurd, Kurmanji
Ethnic Code CNT24c
Total Subgroups 17 (only 15 largest shown)
  Baba'I Kurd 0
  Dumbuli Kurd 0
  Farukhkan Kurd 0
  Galtri Kurd 0
  Haydaran Kurd 0
  Jelali Kurd 0
  Jevanshir Kurd 0
  Juniki Kurd 0
  Khajavand Kurd 0
  Kolani Kurd 0
Country Azerbaijan
Region Asia, Central
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Kelbajar district: Zangelan; Lachin district: Minkend; Ordubad and Qubudli districts; many displaced.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Azerbaijan
Region Asia, Central
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Kelbajar district: Zangelan; Lachin district: Minkend; Ordubad and Qubudli districts; many displaced..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Primary Religion: Islam
Religion Subdivision: Sunni
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.04 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
70.00 %
Non-Religious
20.00 %
Other / Small
9.99 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Kurdish, Northern (53,000 speakers)
Language Code kmr   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Kurdish, Northern (53,000 speakers)
Language Code kmr   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Kurdish, Northern

Primary Language:  Kurdish, Northern

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1856-2016)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1872-2005)
Bible-Complete Yes  (2008)
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories Story Runners
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Kurdish, Northern Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Rivka video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Walk with the Prophets and meet the Messiah Al Massira
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
General Zume Training Zume Project
Mobile App Android Bible app: Kurdish, Northern YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Photo Source manothegreek 
Map Source Bethany World Prayer Center  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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