The Bakhtiari live in the Zagros Mountains of Iran. They are one of the Luri tribes. Their lifestyle is changing as more of them move from being nomadic herders to working in urban environment.
In rural areas the tribe and clan are central to the Bakhtiari. Their women have more freedom than do most Muslim women. Women are involved in all aspects of life; they even fight in skirmishes. About a third of them remain nomads. They do not have access to adequate medical care or education. Wildfires often damage their need for healthy oak trees and grasslands for their goats and sheep. On the side they weave carpets for their own needs and to sell. Some settle down and farm which makes life easier.
Many are shepherds, carpet weavers, farmers or small businessmen. Oil has helped them have some contact with the outside and some live in urban centers. Those who live in urban areas have become athletes, academics and professional actors.
These former Zoroastrians are Shia Muslim like the Iranian majority.
There are many reasons why the Bakhtiari have not responded to the gospel. They are geographically isolated by rugged terrain. Clan divisions keep them socially isolated, so gospel efforts might need to be done on a clan-by-clan basis. There are many gospel tools in a language the Bakhtiari people can understand. There are radio and TV broadcasts, gospel recordings, Scripture portions and the JESUS Film.
Pray that the church would intercede for these people and would plan to reach them via oil workers and women's commercial enterprises, clan by clan.
Pray that women would become believers who teach the gospel to their children.
Pray for Bakhtiari disciples who will make more Jesus-focused disciples.
Scripture Prayers for the Bakhtiari in Iran.
https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2022/10/07/1092344655/photos-in-this-nomadic-tribe-in-iran-the-women-persevere-despite-hardships
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bakhtiari_people
https://nomad.tours/nomads/6466/who-are-the-bakhtiari-tribes-iran/
http://www.bakhtiarifamily.com
http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/baktiari-tribe
https://pulitzercenter.org/stories/why-irans-nomads-are-fading-away
Profile Source: Joshua Project |
People Name General | Bakhtiari |
People Name in Country | Bakhtiari |
Pronunciation |
bahk-tee-AR-ee
|
Alternate Names | Bhaktiari |
Population this Country | 1,334,000 |
Population all Countries | 1,334,000 |
Total Countries | 1 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | No |
GSEC | 1 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 27 |
People ID | 10591 |
ROP3 Code | 100819 |
ROP25 Code | 300743 |
ROP25 Name | Bakhtiari |
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 | Southwest, mainly Khuzestan Province; also in west Chahar Mahall va Bakhtiari, east Lorestan, and Kohgiluyeh va Buyer Ahmad provinces; smaller areas, west Esfahan and Markazi provinces; Masjed-e Soleiman, Shahr-e Kord, Dorud. 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 | Southwest, mainly Khuzestan Province; also in west Chahar Mahall va Bakhtiari, east Lorestan, and Kohgiluyeh va Buyer Ahmad provinces; smaller areas, west Esfahan and Markazi provinces; Masjed-e Soleiman, Shahr-e Kord, Dorud.. Source: Ethnologue 2016 |
Primary Religion: | Islam |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 0.20 %) |
0.20 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
0.00 %
|
Islam |
99.80 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
Primary Language | Bakhtiari (1,334,000 speakers) |
Language Code | bqi Ethnologue Listing |
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
Primary Language | Bakhtiari (1,334,000 speakers) |
Language Code | bqi Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
People Groups | Speaking Bakhtiari |
Primary Language: Bakhtiari
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes |
Bible-New Testament | No |
Bible-Complete | No |
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) | 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 | Indigitube.tv Video / Animation | Create International |
Film / Video | Jesus Film: view in Bakhtiari | Jesus Film Project |
Film / Video | LUMO film of Gospels | Bible Media Group/LUMO |
General | Bible for Children | Bible for Children |
General | Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video | Faith Comes by Hearing |
General | Scripture Earth Gospel resources links | Scripture Earth |
Photo Source | Ninara - Flickr Creative Commons |
Map Source | People Group location: IMB. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project. |
Profile Source | Joshua Project |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |