Northern Kurd in United Kingdom


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Northern or Kurmanji Kurds are actually part of a much larger Kurdish population. They are made up of a number of clans, tribes, and tribal confederations, many of which have been in existence for thousands of years. This people group shares several important and common ties. The Kurds are the largest people group in the world without their own official country. Not only do Kurds speak closely related languages, but they also share a common culture, geographical homeland, and sense of identity.
Kurds have faced persecution at many times in their history. Some persecuted Kurds have found their way to the United Kingdom. In the UK the Kurds have been free to speak their language in their families and practice their Muslim faith.
A complete Bible in the Kurmanji Kurdish language became available in 2008. The Kurds in the UK speak Kurmanji at home and English at work and school.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Kurds living in the UK face a major challenge. How do they fit into a modern Western society and at the same time retain their Kurdish language and culture? Parents send their children to private Kurdish language schools on the weekends so the children will learn to read and write Kurdish and learn Kurdish culture.
While their traditional way of making a living in the Middle East was agriculture and taking care of animals, Kurds today live in cities in the UK and work in other occupations. They own shops and restaurants. They work in trade, retail, construction, and manufacturing. Kurdish women in the UK frequently work outside their home. In traditional Kurdish homes, the women stayed home, took care of the children and domestic responsibilities.
Any difficulties in a Kurdish family tend to be covered up by the family members. This factor of maintaining a good appearance still shapes the Kurds' ideas, despite the almost total collapse of their tribal structures. Although they are still modest in behavior, the Kurdish women in the UK are not required to wear a veil and are not particularly shy of strange men. Some Kurdish women have been able to engage in businesses and have become successful.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Nearly all Kurds are Muslim, most being Sunnis. They first embraced Islam after the Arab conquests of the seventh century. Today, they primarily look to Islam as a basis for social justice. However, despite being predominantly Muslim, religion has created deep rifts among the Kurds. Some Kurds in the UK are Shia and others follow a Muslim sect called Yazidism. Yazidis are considered heretics by orthodox Muslims.
The most important holiday of the year for Kurds over all the world is the New Year celebration called Newroz or Nowruz. It starts between March 19 to March 21. The Kurds dance, have special meals, sing, wear traditional clothing, and jump over bonfires.


What Are Their Needs?

The Kurds of UK have followed Islam and the Yazidi religion for hundreds of years. Although they are relatively economically prosperous, spiritually they are poor. Their religion is a part of their identity.
Although the Bible and the JESUS Film are available in their language of northern Kurdish, there are still only a tiny number of known believers among them.
 


Prayer Points

Ask the Lord to call people to share the gospel with Kurmanji Kurds in the UK.
Ask the Holy Spirit to soften the hearts of Kurmanji Kurds in the UK so that they will be receptive to Christ. Pray that God will raise up strong fellowships of believers among the Kurds in the UK leading to an unstoppable movement to Christ.
 


Scripture Prayers for the Kurd, Kurmanji in United Kingdom.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Kurd, Kurmanji
People Name in Country Kurd, Kurmanji
Natural Name Northern Kurd
Pronunciation kerd
Alternate Names Kermanji; Kurmanji; Turkish Kurd; Yazidi; Yezidi; Behdini
Population this Country 27,000
Population all Countries 14,705,000
Total Countries 33
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 12877
ROP3 Code 105458
ROP25 Code 304412
ROP25 Name Kurd
Country United Kingdom
Region Europe, Western
Continent Europe
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Country United Kingdom
Region Europe, Western
Continent Europe
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked

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Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.05 %)
0.30 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
98.70 %
Non-Religious
1.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Kurdish, Northern (27,000 speakers)
Language Code kmr   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Kurdish, Northern (27,000 speakers)
Language Code kmr   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Kurdish, Northern

Primary Language:  Kurdish, Northern

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1856-2016)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1872-2005)
Bible-Complete Yes  (2008)
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 Oral Bible stories Story Runners
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 Kurdish, Northern Jesus Film Project
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 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 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
General Zume Training Zume Project
Mobile App Android Bible app: Kurdish, Northern YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Photo Source manothegreek 
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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