Kazakh in Iran


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Kazaks are originally semi nomadic, equestrian tribal people who roamed the Ural Mountains and the regions of northern and Central Asia of Eurasia. Several of their clans formed a federation for mutual protection, thereby establishing an ethnic identity of their own. Kazakh ethnic identity accelerated during the late 15th and early 16th centuries. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as the annexation of Central Asia by Russia and the Soviet Union progressed, many Kazakhs fled the steppes to many countries including Iran. Since 1929, ethnic Kazakhs have been trickling into Iran due to political instability at different times in history. Many of them became refugees in Iran. Iran also bought Kazakhs as slaves from slave traders. Those that migrated are settled mostly in the Golestan and Gorgan Provinces in northern Iran. Today, the prospect of economic prosperity serves as a main reason for such emigration.


What Are Their Lives Like?

For over more than 80 years, the diaspora Kazakhs of Iran have kept their culture and traditions – even the way they dress – and their religion. Iranian Kazakhs today are accomplished farmers, well-known for their beautiful handicrafts. They tend to marry among their own ethnicity. In their earlier days as nomads, tribalism formed the basis of their society. In the modern world, tribalism is slowly fading in everyday life. Nonetheless, when ethnic Kazakhs first meet one another they tend to ask about the tribe or clan they belong to. The Iranian Kazakhs speak both Persian and Kazakh at varying levels. The cultural, social and religious commonalities have caused prevalence of common terms and there exists about 6,000 common words between both Kazakh and the Persian language. Owing to the intertwining of their culture with the Iranians, many aspects of their lives have great similarities. One such event is the Nouruz (New Year) Feast, celebrated throughout the land of Iran. The ceremony of house cleaning, wearing new clothes and visiting various relatives before Norouz is a few of the common customs the Iranian Kazakhs have adapted to the land of their living. The outfit of the Kazakhs is usually a white cloth as a symbol of happiness. In addition to their traditional cuisine, during New Year, Kazakhs also serve the Iranian "Norouz Gujeh," a green bean noodle soup. Aside from Nouruz, the Iranian Kazakhs also observe the traditions of the religious feast - Eid-Al-Adha, circumcision, betrothal and wedding, funerals, reciting Fateha Sura and alms giving, and the yearly anniversary for the dead. No matter where they live, the Kazakhs enjoy their traditional cuisine. They begin their day with a cup of black tea. Besbarmak is a traditional Kazakh food made with lamb. Rice and bread are common staples. The Kazakhs enjoy eating apples, grapes, melons, and tomatoes and drinking fermented horse milk. Those who practice Islam do not drink alcohol. Kazakhs extend great hospitality and are open to external influences. They consider it an offence to decline an invitation to dine at their homes. Their social occasions are marked with lavish feasts and singing in groups. The dombra and kobyz, two of their traditional musical instruments, are popular among Kazakhs. Kukpar is a popular sport played by Iranian Kazakhs, where a goat carcass is moved to a goal by horse-riders. The structure of the Kazakh family is patriarchal, but this is gradually changing. Such changes have caused a breakdown in the traditional Kazakh family. However, Kazakhs still retain an extremely hierarchical view and people of age and high position are given great respect and honor.


Because of their nomadic pastoral lifestyle, Kazakhs kept an epic tradition of oral history.
What Are Their Beliefs?

The Kazakhs are Sunni Muslims, and they live peacefully with the Shia Muslim Persian neighbors. The acceptance of Islam led to many religious terms entering into the Kazakh language via Persian concepts. Some of those words include God, prophet, imam, prayer and fasting, ablution, marriage, religion and belief, brother, school, paradise and hell, angel, and king etc. Some of their Islamic practices are combined with traditional folk religions such as shamanism, animism and ancestor worship. Many Kazakhs continue to consult shamans (priests who communicate with the spirits). Many of them wear protection beads and talisman to ward off the evil spirits and the evil eye. Pregnant Kazakh women never venture out of the house for fear of jinn and fairies, a custom very popular with some Iranian tribes as well. The birth of a male child and the circumcision ceremony are highly regarded and celebrated.


What Are Their Needs?

As far as we know there is no Kazakh Church in Iran. Hopefully they can hear and respond to the gospel from Iranian believers.


Prayer Points

Ask the Holy Spirit to open the hearts of Kazakhs so that they will be receptive to the gospel. Pray for "Open Doors" as they build their ministry presence online for fellowship and discipleship to reach believers in isolation, and for their multimedia productions to reach the unreached. Pray for a growing house church movement and for the training and equipping of house church leaders. Pray for Open Doors and the Voice of the Martyrs as they conduct advocacy efforts and strive to meet the needs of Central Asian believers when they are imprisoned, excluded from families and communities, and deprived of employment because of their faith.


Scripture Prayers for the Kazakh in Iran.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

The Kazakhs of Central Asia

Source:  Asia Harvest      Download

People Name General Kazakh
People Name in Country Kazakh
Pronunciation KAH-zahk
Alternate Names Gazaqi; Hazake; Kazax; Qazaq; Qazaqi; कॅज़ॅक
Population this Country 6,700
Population all Countries 16,737,000
Total Countries 24
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 12599
ROP3 Code 104791
ROP25 Code 303856
ROP25 Name Kazakh
Country Iran
Region Asia, Central
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 9  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Caspian sea, northwest Golestan Province, Gorgan city.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Iran
Region Asia, Central
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 9  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Caspian sea, northwest Golestan Province, Gorgan city..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016

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Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
100.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Kazakh
Language Code kaz   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Kazakh
Language Code kaz   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Kazakh

Primary Language:  Kazakh

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1818-1989)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1820-2008)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1993-2014)
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 Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Kazakh Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Kazakh Bible Video (Kieli Kitap 2010) General / Other
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 Four Spiritual Laws Campus Crusade for Christ
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Kazakh YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Kazakh YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter IBT, Russia - resources Institute for Bible Translation - Russia
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Kazakh Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter Tools for faith conversations Campus Crusade for Christ
Photo Source Petar Milošević - Wikimedia  Creative Commons 
Video Source Asia Harvest
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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