Kurd, Sorani in Afghanistan

Introduction / History

Today, Kurds are the largest ethnic group in the world without a state of their own. The Kurds are a large ethnic group who have always lived in the same region and who trace their roots back to the Medes of ancient Persia (the frontier of what is now Iraq, Iran, and Turkey) more than 2,500 years ago. In fact, the Magi, or wise men, who traveled from the East to deliver their gold, frankincense and myrrh to the newborn Jesus in Bethlehem, were most likely Zoroastrian priests, ancestors of the modern Kurds.

The Kurds are tribal people and many of them lived, until recently, a nomadic lifestyle in the mountainous regions of Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran. A small number are in Afghanistan. Their refuge has always been the mountains, with their steep pastures and fertile valleys.

In the wake of World War I, with US President Woodrow Wilson's call for "self-determination" echoing loudly, the Kurds were promised a homeland Kurdistan in the Treaty of Sevres (1920). However, the victorious allies backed away from their pledge to court the new Turkish regime of Kemal Ataturk, and in fear of destabilizing Iraq and Syria, which were granted to Britain and France, respectively, as mandated territories. The 1923 Treaty of Lausanne thus abrogated Kurdish independence and divided the Kurds among Turkey, Iraq and Syria.

Ataturk's discrimination against Turkey's Kurdish population began almost immediately, with Kurdish political groups and manifestations of cultural identity banned outright. In the immediate aftermath of the Second World War, the Kurds of Iran, with Soviet support, succeeded in establishing the first independent Kurdish state (the Kurdish Republic of Mahabad). But this was quickly crushed by Iranian troops.

The small number of Kurds in Afghanistan speak Sorani. They live in the cities of Kabul, Herat, Ghazni and Mazar-i-Sharif.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Kurdish society consists mainly of tribes that arose from a nomadic and semi-nomadic way of life in previous centuries. It is strongly fragmented and is often split by internal disagreements. So far in history, the Kurds have never really managed to unite in their common cause. Their primary loyalty is to the immediate family and then to the tribe. Tribe allegiance is, however, based on a mixture of kinship and territorial loyalty. Many Kurds of the lower regions are not organized in tribes, but even there, strife is common between the different clans and communities.

Like in other countries, the Sorani Kurds are farmers and livestock herders. They get a low yield for their farming efforts because of outdated methods. Others live in cities.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Kurds "hold their Islam lightly," meaning that they are not so strongly committed to Islam, and do not identify as closely with it as Arabs do. This is perhaps due to several factors, one being that many Kurds still feel some connection with the ancient Zoroastrian faith, and they feel it is an original Kurdish spirituality that far predates the seventh-century AD arrival of Muhammad. Kurds have had conflicts with important Muslim people nearby: Turks, Arabs and Iranians. Nonetheless, most Kurds are Muslims.

What Are Their Needs?

Tribalism is still a factor among Kurds, promoting many different factions that weaken the possibility of an independent homeland. Kurds in Afghanistan need a better identity than their tribe. They need their identity to be centered around Jesus Christ.

Prayer Points

Pray for the Lord to bring peace and justice to Kurdistan as a testimony of his power and mercy.
Pray for Kurdish disciples to make more disciples who will make even more disciples.
Pray for Central Kurds to have the spiritual hunger it takes to endure persecution and rejection to find their way to the King of kings.

Text Source:   Joshua Project