Azarbaijani Kurds

ethnic group
group=Azarbaijani Kurds


poptime= 2 to 2.5 million
popplace=Azarbaijan
region1= West Azerbaijan (also referred to as Iranian Kurdistan)

region2= East Azarbaijan
rels= Sunni Muslim, Yarsan
langs= Kurdish (Native)
Persian second language
related= Other Kurdish people, other Iranian peoplesThe Azarbaijani Kurds (Kurdish: "Kurdên Azirbaycanê/Adirbaycanê", Arabic: أكراد أذربيجان ) are among the original Iranian populations of Azarbaijan (ancient Atropatene), and traditionally mostly inhabited the areas in western regions of Azarbaijan around Lake Urmia (Zêy Wurmê), known as Matiene district of Media Atropatene in ancient times.

Etymology

The name Azerbaijan is an ancient name and is thought to be derived from "Atropates", [ Atroapates. Encyclopedia Iranica. [http://www.iranica.com/newsite/articles/v3f1/v3f1a020.html] ] the Satrap (governor) of Media in the Achaemenid empire, who ruled a region found in modern Iranian Azarbaijan called "Atropatene". "Historical Dictionary of Azerbaijan" by Tadeusz Swietochowski and Brian C. Collins, ISBN 0-8108-3550-9 (retrieved 07 June 2006).] Since ancient times following non-Turkic peoples have inhabited in Azerbaijan reported by ancient and medieval geographers: The Kurds and some other Iranian groups closely related to Kurds and Armenians. The Kurds themselves are a collection of northwestern Iranians mostly of Median stock.

As stated above, the name Azarbaijan was not originally an ethnic toponym, rather than a region named after an ancient Median general. In modern times that some Azerbaijanis prefer to use the term as an ethno-geographical topynym, the borders of such a topynom vary according to demographics of Azerbaijanis. For more details see: Azarbaijan.

History

Shortly after Islamic conquest in 7th century, Kurds like their forefathers again played an important role in the political scene of Azarbaijan. Some of better known Kurdish dynasties and principalities of Azarbaijan include: Hadhabanis, Shaddadids, Rawadids, Mukriyans, etc.

According to Encyclopedia of Iranica the first Turks who entered Azerbaijan were mercenary archers imported and employed by medieval Kurdish dynasties.

A medieval Kurdish Sufi family in Ardabil (literally: "soft soil" in Kurdish) founded one of important Iranian dyansties: the Safavids, who are credited as a dynasty who rebuilt Iran after centuries of foreign invasion by Arabian (Muslim) and Turanian (Mongol) tribes.

As of mid 20th century Kurds of Azarbaijan established a short-lived Soviet-backed republic centered at Mahabad.

Demographics

Although today Kurds are present at almost every region of West Azarbaijan province of Iran, and form a substantial portion of the population of the province, there are only a few small enclaves of Kurds left in East Azarbaijan province. Some of ancient cities inhabited by Kurds, which later became subject to Turkification are Bonab, whose name in Kurdish Binaw (Under water) points to the city being subject to tidewater of Lake Urmia, Maragha, Tabriz whose Kurdish name "Tawrêz" literally means "respected sun", (all in East Azarbaijan province), Khoy (meaning "salt" in Kurdish, referring to salt mines in the region) and Miandoab (both In West Azaraijan province). The city of Urmia although during beginning of 20th century for a period was to some degrees turkified, but today has reabsorbed a sizeable Kurdish population from predominantly Kurdish surrounding villages.

Religion

Today almost all of the Kurds in Azarbaijan are Shafiite Sunni Muslims; a very small group are also followers of Yarsan. Numerous fire temples, in the area, points to the fact that once Zoroastrianism and other Aryan religions were practiced by the locals.

References

* [http://www.iranica.com/newsite/articles/v3f3/v3f2a88b.html Iranica]

ee also

*Iranian Kurdistan
*Azerbaijani people
*Talysh people

External links

* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/middle_east/06/iran_maps/html/2.stm Azerbaijani Kurds]