Kurd, Sorani in United States

People Name:	Kurd, Sorani
Country:	United States
10/40 Window:	No
Population:	41,000
World Population:	4,027,900
Primary Language:	Kurdish, Central
Primary Religion:	Islam
Christian Adherents:	0.00 %
Evangelicals:	0.00 %
Scripture:	Complete Bible
Online Audio NT:	Yes
Jesus Film:	Yes
Audio Recordings:	Yes
People Cluster:	Kurd
Affinity Bloc:	Persian-Median
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

The Kurds are one of the largest ethno-linguistic people group in the world without their own nation. The homeland of the Kurds is in the Middle East, northwestern Iran, southeastern Turkey and the northern sections of Iraq and Syria. After WWII Kurds began to migrate from the violence and turmoil of their native land to countries in the West.

About 10,000 central Kurds now make their home in the USA. Many live in San Diego and Memphis, TN. Some Kurdish families in the USA now speak English in their homes while others still speak Central Kurdish, Sorani. The majority of Kurds speak Northern Kurdish or Kurmanji. Kurds in and from Iraq speak Sorani. Sorani is written in Arabic script while Kurmanji is written in Latin letters. About one sixth of the Kurds in the USA speak Sorani.

There have been four waves of Kurdish immigrants arriving in the U.S. The first and smallest happened after WWI. The second wave happened in the late 1970s with Iran’s revolution, which sent many fleeing the country, be they Farsi speaking Iranians or Kurds. The third wave was in the early 1990s after Gulf War I. Kurds generally sided with Iran in the Iran-Iraq War, so many had to flee Saddam Hussein’s retribution. The late 1990s was when the fourth wave happened. There was a civil war between two Kurdish factions which drove many Kurds to Guam and eventually the United States, especially Nashville. Some Kurds returned to Iraq after Hussein was ousted in 2003.

What Are Their Lives Like?

The traditional occupation of the Kurds in their homeland was that of nomadic herding of goats and sheep. In the USA, they have had to take on new jobs such as construction, owning restaurants and small businesses or in manufacturing. Kurdish parents encourage their boys and girls to obtain a college education.

Family is an essential part of Kurdish culture. The relationship between family members is close. The clan and community are more important than the individual in traditional Kurdish society. The Kurdish father is the traditional head of the home. Traditionally a Kurdish man and woman in love could not marry without both their families' permission.

Kurdish families in the USA often have more children than the typical American family. American Kurds tend to live in nuclear families while in Kurdistan, the land of the Kurds, they lived in extended families up to four generations under the one roof. Respecting older people is integral part of Kurdish family values. Hospitality and family honor are significant features. Kurdish women and girls were expected to dress modestly or she would dishonor her family. A woman in Kurdistan was not considered an adult unless she was married and had children.

These dynamics are changing due to the individualistic nature of American society. American school systems train young people to be independent. Many young Kurds have started to put their own interests before that of their family and community. It was once unthinkable for an unmarried Kurdish couple to live together as Americans typically do. In the USA a Kurdish woman may pursue a professional career and not marry.

Kurds are trying to preserve their ways and protect Kurdish rights abroad through Kurdish organizations. One of these organizations is dedicated to protecting women’s rights. In Minneapolis there is the Kurdish Community of America (KCA) which helps recently arrived Kurds with practical needs like finding housing and getting a driver’s license.

What Are Their Beliefs?

About 75% of the world's Kurds claim to be Sunni Muslims. Smaller Kurdish groups include Shia, Sufi, Christian and Yazidi. Sunni Kurds tend to be more tolerate of other faiths than other Muslims. Sunni Kurds try to obey the teachings of the Koran and the prophet Mohammad. They believe that by following the Five Pillars of Islam that they will attain heaven when they die. However, Allah, the supreme God of the universe, determines who enters paradise. Sunnis pray five times a day facing Mecca. They fast the month of Ramadan. They attend mosque services on Friday. If a Muslim has the means, he or she will make a pilgrimage to Mecca once in his or her lifetime. Muslims are also prohibited from drinking alcohol, eating pork, gambling, stealing, using deceit, slandering, and making idols. The two main holidays for Sunni Muslims are Eid al Fitr, the breaking of the monthly fast and Eid al Adha, the celebration of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son to Allah. The Kurdish New Year on March 21 is celebrated as a major holiday by all Kurds regardless of religion.

What Are Their Needs?

The Kurds living in the USA must understand that biblical Christianity is not just a Western religion. They must see that their good works and devotion to family will not gain them the forgiveness of their sins or eternal life. Newly arrived Kurds need to learn English and new job skills in order to fit into their new nation.

Prayer Points

Pray the Lord leads American believers to build friendships with Kurds and tell them about their savior.
Pray that God creates a hunger for the Bible and spiritual truth in the heart of the Kurdish people living in the USA.
Ask God to raise up Kurdish disciples who will make more disciples. Pray that Kurdish leaders are willing to investigate the claims of Jesus Christ.