Shabak in Iraq

The Shabak have only been reported in Iraq
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Shabaks probably migrated from Persia to Ninevah in the 1600s. Many of the Shabak are related to the Kurds and the word shabak in Arabic means intertwine.

The Shabak of Iraq live in the Sinjar region of Ninevah, Mosul in many villages like Khazna, for example. They speak Shabaki and Arabic.

What Are Their Lives Like?

The Shabak have always been looked on as being lower class people in Iraq. They have been discriminated against by Iraqi authorities and by the Kurdish people too who they live amongst.

The Shabak have had attacks on them killing many of their people in recent times. They are in extreme danger and the dangerous situation is an obstacle to the gospel message being taken to them.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Shabak began their own religion to defend themselves against what they say to be false accusations from the past. They have beliefs from Islam and Christianity. The Shabak have their own ideas on spiritual life and mix it with Sufism too. They have religious guides called Pirs. They drink alcohol unlike other Muslims.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Prayer needs to be made for their safety and that their situation leads to them to come to Jesus Christ. Many have now gone to Iraqi Kurdistan.

Pray their despised situation may work for their good, making them receptive to the gospel message.

Pray that they meet loving Christians.


What Are Their Needs?

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/shabak_people

i-class.com/e.o./shabak.htm


Prayer Points

Scripture Prayers for the Shabak in Iraq.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Shabak
People Name in Country Shabak
Alternate Names
Population this Country 283,000
Population all Countries 283,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 6
People ID 19500
ROP3 Code 115440
ROP25 Code 307413
ROP25 Name Shabak
Country Iraq
Region Africa, North and Middle East
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 18  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Ninawa governorate: Ali Rach, Khazna, Talara, and Yangija villages north of Mosul; many displaced since 1980s.   Source:  Ethnologue 2020
Country Iraq
Region Africa, North and Middle East
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 18  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Ninawa governorate: Ali Rach, Khazna, Talara, and Yangija villages north of Mosul; many displaced since 1980s..   Source:  Ethnologue 2020
Map of Shabak in Iraq Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.01 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
99.99 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Shabak (283,000 speakers)
Language Code sdb   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Unknown
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Shabak (283,000 speakers)
Language Code sdb   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Shabak

Primary Language:  Shabak

Bible Translation Status:  Unspecified

Resource Type Resource Name Source
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Photo Source club1040.com 
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.