Afshari in Iran


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Afshari are descendants from the larger Azerbaijani people cluster that occupies a wide area from Caucasus to the Iranian plateau. The Afshars (sometimes spelled Avshar) are a nomadic turkic tribe which originated in central Asia and is now found in parts of Iran, Syria and Turkey. Many Afshari make their home in the area surrounding the Iranian city of Kemerman.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Afshari are well known as skilled carpet weavers. The men practice animal husbandry, while the women sell their highly prized rugs, runners and decorative pieces. Their large families live in tents in tents hand- woven from black goat hair. They are semi -nomadic, moving between winter and summer pasture lands. In recent decades trucks and motorcycles have replaced camels and horses. Most Afshari families own a radio and a cassette recorder, they are connected to the world by radio and they love to listen to music.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Afshari are primarily Muslims of the ithna ashari tradition but there are some Hanafite Muslims as well. Isla, among the Afshari is a reflection of the historical ties that exist between Azerbaijan and Iran. Until the twentieth century, most Afshari identified themselves as Muslim rather than Azerbaijani. They believe that being a"spiritual community of Islam" was much more important that being a nation. Among the Afshari, religious practices are less restrictive of women's activities than in most of Muslim countries. The majority of Afshari have jobs outside the home and a few have attained leadership positions. However, some evidence of the traditional, restrictive female role remains.


What Are Their Needs?

The Afshari livng in Iran are very resistant to the Gospel. Currently, there are no known believers among them. The availability of the Jesus film and scriptures are all positive developments.


Prayer Points

Pray for Christian radio programming in the Afshari dialect of Azerbaijani.
Pray that gospel recordings will soon be distributed in their communities.
Pray that Afshari people who may have studied abroad and become believers in Christ will return to their people and spread the gospel.


Scripture Prayers for the Afshari in Iran.


Profile Source:   Anonymous  

People Name General Afshari
People Name in Country Afshari
Pronunciation ahf-SHAH-ree
Alternate Names
Population this Country 401,000
Population all Countries 417,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 8
People ID 19409
ROP3 Code 100096
ROP25 Code 300091
ROP25 Name Afshari
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 Widespread, especially north and central.   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 Widespread, especially north and central..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
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 Azerbaijani, South (401,000 speakers)
Language Code azb   Ethnologue Listing
Primary Dialect Afshari
Dialect Code 3389   Global Recordings Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Azerbaijani, South (401,000 speakers)
Language Code azb   Ethnologue Listing
Primary Dialect Afshari
Dialect Code 3389   Global Recordings 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 Frontiers 
Map Source Joshua Project / Global Mapping Intl  
Profile Source Anonymous 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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