Which religion is practiced by most Kurds?
Nearly all Iraqi Kurds consider themselves Sunni Muslims. In our survey, 98\% of Kurds in Iraq identified themselves as Sunnis and only 2\% identified as Shias. (A small minority of Iraqi Kurds, including Yazidis, are not Muslims.) But being a Kurd does not necessarily mean alignment with a particular religious sect.
Which country has the most Kurds?
Autochthonous community
| Country | Official figures or estimates | Further information |
|---|---|---|
| Turkey | 13,200,000 (1993 MRGI estimate) 14,700,000 (2017 CFR estimate) | Kurds in Turkey |
| Iran | 6,100,000 (1993 MRGI estimate) 8,100,000 (2017 CFR estimate) | Kurds in Iran |
| Iraq | 4,400,000 (1993 MRGI estimate) 5,450,000 (2015 EPRS estimate) | Kurds in Iraq |
Are Medes Kurds?
Russian historian and linguist Vladimir Minorsky suggested that the Medes, who widely inhabited the land where currently the Kurds form a majority, might have been forefathers of the modern Kurds. He also states that the Medes who invaded the region in the eighth century BC, linguistically resembled the Kurds.
Is Kurdish grammar hard?
Learning Kurdish can be hard in terms of grammar and learning resources, especially if you don’t speak any middle-eastern language. The Kurmanji dialect can be easier for speakers of European languages because it uses the Latin alphabet, while the Surani dialect uses the Arabic script.
What do Iranians think of the Kurds?
Yet, little is heard about the Kurds of Iran. To most Iranians, Kurds are simply a non-people. Any mention of Kurdish symbols, such as the sun logo of the Kurdish flag, or even the term “Kurd” does not appear in Iranian media. Unless of course, it pertains to some other country mistreating their Kurds.
What is the difference between the Turkish and Iranian Kurdish alphabet?
Turkish Kurds use the Roman alphabet, while Iranian Kurds use the Arabic script. Although the Persian alphabet is Arabic, the Persian language (Farsi) is very different from Arabic, being a non-Semitic language. The Iranian regime has tried for decades to erase the use of the Kurdish language, not only in the public sphere but in the home as well.
What are the main divisions among Kurds?
Tribal and clan loyalties, political ideologies, which include a strong communist influence, and rural versus urban differences, divide them. In fact, the latter divisive factor has been one of the primary reasons for Kurdish continued subservience to the Iranian regime.
Why don’t the Kurds of Iran support the Azeri nationalists in Khuzistan?
While Azeri nationalists can rely on Turkish sources to promote their cause (when beneficial to the Erdogan regime), and the Arab struggle in Khuzistan is supported by most Arab Gulf media, the Kurds of Iran have few outside advocates to promote their fight.