Azeri Turk in Syria


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

More Azeris probably live in Iran than in the former Soviet republic of Azerbaijan. The Iranian government discourages the counting of minority groups in Iran and forbids the use of the Azerbaijani language in schools. More than a million Azeris have left their homeland of Azerbaijan and northeastern Iran. Some Azeris have found a home in Syria. Since March 2011 a civil war has been occurring in Syria. The government under Assad has been fighting the rebels who oppose the Assad Baathist regime. The United Nations estimates that at least 500,000 people have died in the fighting. Another five million people have fled Syria because of the war and 6.7 million more Syrians have been internally displaced. Due to the civil war and refugee crisis, it is impossible to estimate how many Azeris now live in Syria.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Most Azeris immigrated from Iran and Azerbaijan looking for better economic opportunities in Syria. Many Azeris now are trying to leave Syria and find a more stable life in Europe or Turkey. Before the war in Syria Azeris worked in trade, small businesses, restaurants, factories, and on farms. The war has completely disrupted the lives of most Syrians including the Azeris.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Most Azeris in Azerbaijan and Iran are Shia Muslim. There is a sizable group of Sunni Muslim Azeris. Both Sunnis and Shias, the two main branches of Islam, agree that Allah is the one true God and that Mohammad was his messenger. One group, which eventually became the Shias, felt Mohammad's successor should be someone in his bloodline, while the other, which became the Sunnis, felt a pious individual who would follow the Prophet's customs was the right choice. The successor whom the Shia believe was right leader, Ali, met a violent, martyr's death. So unlike the Sunnis, the Shias understand that a righteous man can be killed. Sunni Muslims believe that winning battles demonstrates Allah's favor.


What Are Their Needs?

Like any group of people, the Azeris need a stable society to raise their families and to prosper. If they are able to leave Syria, they will need shelter, food, clean water, and schools for their children. Even more important is that the Azeris come to know that Jesus or Isa is much more than a prophet as He is depicted in Islam. He is the Son of God and the Lord and Savior of the world. He alone can forgive their sins and grant them eternal life.


Prayer Points

Pray for a swift and just end to the war in Syria. Pray that Azeri parents will be able to provide for the needs of their children. Pray that Christian agencies and churches are able to help the Azeris in their physical needs and then tell them about the Savior and His love for them. Pray that the Lord raises up a Disciple Making Movement among the Azeris of Syria in this decade.


Scripture Prayers for the Azerbaijani, Azeri Turk in Syria.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Azerbaijani, Azeri Turk
People Name in Country Azerbaijani, Azeri Turk
Natural Name Azeri Turk
Pronunciation uh-ZARE-ee terk
Alternate Names Afshar; Shachsewenen; South Azerbaijani
Population this Country 37,000
Population all Countries 17,976,000
Total Countries 6
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 18859
ROP3 Code 100677
ROP25 Code 300626
ROP25 Name Azerbaijani (Azeri)
Country Syria
Region Africa, North and Middle East
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 12  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Hamah and Hims governorates: isolated central enclaves in both.   Source: 
Country Syria
Region Africa, North and Middle East
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 12  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Hamah and Hims governorates: isolated central enclaves in both..   Source: 
Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
94.00 %
Non-Religious
6.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Azerbaijani, South (37,000 speakers)
Language Code azb   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Azerbaijani, South (37,000 speakers)
Language Code azb   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Azerbaijani, South

Primary Language:  Azerbaijani, South

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes
Bible-New Testament Yes
Bible-Complete Yes  (2009-2013)
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
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Azerbaijani, South Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
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 Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Azerbaijani, South YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app from Google Play Store Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Azerbaijani, South YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Azeri Scripture Resources General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Bible: Comic Book Version Super Bible / Comic Bible Society
Text / Printed Matter Download scripture in this language eBible.org
Text / Printed Matter Tools for faith conversations Campus Crusade for Christ
Photo Source Travlr 
Map Source Qamxan  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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