Bakhtiari in Iran

The Bakhtiari have only been reported in Iran
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

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.


What Are Their Lives Like?

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.


What Are Their Beliefs?

These former Zoroastrians are Shia Muslim like the Iranian majority.


What Are Their Needs?

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.


Prayer Points

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.


References

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 1,288,000
Population all Countries 1,288,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 26
PeopleID3 10591
ROP3 Code 100819
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
Map of Bakhtiari in Iran Ethnolinguistic map or other map

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 (1,288,000 speakers)
Language Code bqi   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Bakhtiari (1,288,000 speakers)
Language Code bqi   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Bakhtiari
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.


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