Zaza-Dimli in Türkiye (Turkey)

The Zaza-Dimli have only been reported in Türkiye (Turkey)
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Zaza live in the middle-eastern part of Turkey. The majority of Zaza people consider themselves to be a part of the Kurdish people, and have much in common with the Zaza Kurds. However, the Zaza people can trace their roots to the Persians and Medes. The Zaza language is similar to the north-Caspian (Armenian) spoken language and belongs to the Indo-European language family.


Where Are they Located?

They live in the middle-eastern part of Turkey.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Zaza society is traditionally patriarchal, and their traditions and history are passed on orally. The Zaza people remain largely illiterate. They live in valleys and mountains as nomadic people, shepherding their livestock and relying on agricultural products.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The primary religion of the Zazas is Sunni Islam, but the Zaza people consider themselves to be Alevi Muslims (a Shi 'ite sect of Islam), a mystical faith with strong shamanistic and Zoroastrian roots. There is a very complicated, even sacred, relationship between Islam and the natural world.


What Are Their Needs?

Secularism makes Zaza people change their religious structure nowadays. Their spiritual leaders no longer have power in Zaza society and the community cannot provide the individual needs. Zaza have a lot of hidden marriage problems and dysfunctional family relations. This often causes the Zaza people to cry out to God for help. God does not want this small ethnic group to miss out His mission. They need to hear the message of our Redeemer even though they cannot read the Bible and depend on learning the stories.


Prayer Points

Scripture Prayers for the Zaza-Dimli in Türkiye (Turkey).


References

Burnett, David. Clash of Worlds. London UK: Monarch Pub., 1990.
Hiebert, Paul G. Anthropological Insights for Missionaries Michigan, USA: Baker Academic, 1995
Kaya, Mehmed S. The Zaza Kurds of Turkey: A Middle Eastern minority in a Globalised Society (Library of Modern Middle East) Tauris Academic UK, 2011
Packer, J. I. Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God: Christian Books for the Modern World London, UK: InterVarsity Press, 1961
Robson, Colin. Real World Research: A Resource for Users of Social Research Methods in Applied Settings. 3rd ed. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell, 2011
Senior, Donald & Carroll Stuhlmueller. The Biblical Foundations for Mission. London: SCM Press, 1983
Benanav, Michael and Benjamin Rabbach. The Alevis of the Munzur Vally. Accessed 18 November, 2015.
http://www.munzurvalley.com/#intro2 Blanchard, Christopher M. Islam: Sunnis and Shiites. Congressional Research Service, 28 January 2009. Accessed 23 November 2015.
https://fas.org/irp/crs/RS21745.pdf Burak Sansal "All about Turkey". Accessed 20 November 2015.
http//www.allaboutturkey.com/ottoman.htm Encyclopedia Britannica online. "Cross-cousin Anthropology." Accessed 23 November 2015 http://www.britannica.com/topic/cross-cousin Gippert, Jost and P. Leceq. What do you know about Zaza People in Turkey? Accessed 14 November 2015.
https://www.englishforums.com/English/WhatAboutZazaTurkey/vczn/post.htm Project Gutenberg Self-Publishing Press: Contemporary Books and Poetry for the Independent Reader. Accessed 19 November 2015. http://self.gutenberg.org/article/whebn0002569084/zaza%20people Werner, Eberhard. "Considerations about the religions of the Zaza people." International Symposium of the Zaza Language. Turkey, Bingol University. 2012. Accessed 16 November 2015. http://www.sil.org/system/files/reapdata/75/99/44/75994446654612360130387921608243337193/Some_Thoughts_about_the_Religions_of_the_Zaza_People_Dr_Eberhard_Werner.pdf


Profile Source:   Anonymous  

People Name General Zaza-Dimli
People Name in Country Zaza-Dimli
Pronunciation ZAH-zah DIM-lee
Alternate Names Dimili; Dimili Kurd; Kurd; Southern Zaza; Zaza
Population this Country 1,316,000
Population all Countries 1,316,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 26
People ID 11560
ROP3 Code 102613
ROP25 Code 304412
ROP25 Name Kurd
Country Türkiye (Turkey)
Region Asia, Central
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 41  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Bingöl, Diyarbakir, and Elazig provinces: primarily Cermik, Gerger, Egil, Siverek, Dicle, Palu, Bingöl, and Hani cities.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Türkiye (Turkey)
Region Asia, Central
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 41  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Bingöl, Diyarbakir, and Elazig provinces: primarily Cermik, Gerger, Egil, Siverek, Dicle, Palu, Bingöl, and Hani cities..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Map of Zaza-Dimli in Türkiye (Turkey)
Primary Religion: Islam
Religion Subdivision: Sunni
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
99.00 %
Non-Religious
1.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Zazaki, Southern (1,316,000 speakers)
Language Code diq   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Zazaki, Southern (1,316,000 speakers)
Language Code diq   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Zazaki, Southern

Primary Language:  Zazaki, Southern

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (2018-2021)
Bible-New Testament No
Bible-Complete No
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
Film / Video Gospel stories in Zaza Dimli General / Other
Film / Video Gospel videos General / Other
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
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 Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Zazaki, Southern YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Zazaki, Southern YouVersion Bibles
Photo Source CharlesFred - Flickr  Creative Commons 
Map Source People Group location: Field worker. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Anonymous 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.