Turkish-speaking Kurd in Türkiye (Turkey)

The Turkish-speaking Kurd have only been reported in Türkiye (Turkey)
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Kurds are a large ethnic group who have lived in the same place for 2,500 years. They trace their roots to the Medes of ancient Persia. 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. 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." 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.
Today, Kurds are the largest ethnic group in the world without a state of their own. If the Middle East map were to be redrawn to give the Kurds their own boundaries, Kurdistan would be as large as France, stretching over 200,000 square miles. They are unevenly distributed between Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Most Kurds speak Kurmânji or Sorani. In Turkey, those who are more assimilated speak Turkish.


What Are Their Lives Like?

In Turkey, Kurds are called, “Mountain Turks,” and there is an effort to get them to assimilate. Kurds who want to get along with the Turks learn the Turkish language.
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 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.


What Are Their Beliefs?

It has been said that Kurds "hold their Islam lightly", meaning that they are not so vehement about Islam, and they 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. Nonetheless, most Kurds are Muslims, and today about three-quarters are members of the majority Sunni branch (at least nominally). As many as four million Kurds are Shia Muslims, living mostly in Iran. Turkish speaking Kurds are likely to be Sunni Muslims like the Turks.


What Are Their Needs?

In Turkey, where the largest contingent of Kurds live (40 %), the Kurds are seen as a threat by the Turkish government, which has continually sought to assimilate the Kurds into Turkish society through forced resettlement. Until recently, it was a crime to speak Kurdish in public.
Tribalism is still a factor among Kurds, promoting many different factions which weaken the possibility of an independent homeland. The question of Kurdish autonomy remains unresolved.


Prayer Points

Pray that the Turkish speaking Kurds will have a spiritual hunger that will open their hearts to the King of kings.
Pray for workers who will share the good news and tell the Kurdish people how to follow the Lord.
Pray for a movement to Christ among Kurds everywhere.


Scripture Prayers for the Kurd, Turkish-speaking in Türkiye (Turkey).


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Kurd, Turkish-speaking
People Name in Country Kurd, Turkish-speaking
Natural Name Turkish-speaking Kurd
Pronunciation kerd
Alternate Names Turkish Kurd
Population this Country 6,412,000
Population all Countries 6,412,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 128
People ID 18756
ROP3 Code 114402
ROP25 Code 304412
ROP25 Name Kurd
Country Türkiye (Turkey)
Region Asia, Central
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 50  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Widespread in Turkey as L1 or L2   Source:  Ethnologue 2010
Country Türkiye (Turkey)
Region Asia, Central
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 50  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Widespread in Turkey as L1 or L2.   Source:  Ethnologue 2010
Map of Kurd, Turkish-speaking in Türkiye (Turkey)
Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.01 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
99.99 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Turkish (6,412,000 speakers)
Language Code tur   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Turkish (6,412,000 speakers)
Language Code tur   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Turkish

Primary Language:  Turkish

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1782-1985)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1819-1993)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1827-2009)
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 Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Love Story General / Other
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Turkish Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
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 The Hope Video Mars Hill Media
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 Four Spiritual Laws Campus Crusade for Christ
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
Mobile App Android Bible app: Turkish YouVersion Bibles
Photo Source Andrea Giudiceandrea - Flickr  Creative Commons 
Map Source People Group location: IMB. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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