Tajik in Canada

People Name:	Tajik
Country:	Canada
10/40 Window:	No
Population:	2,000
World Population:	10,950,200
Primary Language:	Tajik
Primary Religion:	Islam
Christian Adherents:	0.04 %
Evangelicals:	0.03 %
Scripture:	Complete Bible
Online Audio NT:	Yes
Jesus Film:	Yes
Audio Recordings:	Yes
People Cluster:	Tajik
Affinity Bloc:	Persian-Median
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

Tajiks, along with other ethnic groups originally from Afghanistan, have experienced wartime trauma since the 1980s without a foreseeable end to the fighting in sight.

As historical descendants of the Iranian people, this people group originally comes from the nation of Tajikistan, who previously migrated to Afghanistan. Tajik people are fleeing Afghanistan, finding more peaceful and sustainable atmospheres in such nations as Canada. Most Afghan refugees are from other people groups, but there is a small number of Tajiks among them.

What Are Their Lives Like?

After relocating to Canada, Tajiks have left behind qishlaqs, settlements numbering as few as 200 and as many as 700 single-family house constructed close to irrigation canals or riverbanks. The close-knit community is what Tajiks strive to reconstruct. As Muslims, they are learning to navigate a much more liberal culture. It will become increasingly difficult for the next generation to stick with the old ways when they are educated in Canadian schools and immersed in Canadian values.

What Are Their Beliefs?

A large percentage of Tajiks practice Islam from the Sunni Hanafi school. They join other Sunni Muslims at the mosques.

What Are Their Needs?

Newly resettled Tajiks may be limited with their educational and professional opportunities if they do not speak English or French. Whether having moved to Canada recently or the move was several years ago, many Tajiks desperately need trauma counseling from their first-hand experiences and survival of such events.

Prayer Points

Pray for the Tajiks to receive the educational, professional and psychological assistance they need to flourish in Canada.
Pray for spiritual hunger among the Tajiks that will lead them to the cross and the empty grave.
Pray for Canadian believers to compassionately reach out to the Tajik communities.
Pray for a disciple making movement to emerge among Tajik communities in each city where they currently reside.