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Image by Daniel Leone

THE KURDS

“No friends but the mountains."
(Ji çiyan pê ve tu heval nînin)

A renowned Kurdish proverb

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Who are the Kurds? 

The Kurds are one of the oldest ethnic groups in the world, native to Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Armenia. They speak Kurdish, preserve a rich cultural and historical heritage, and remain a resilient, stateless people, proud of their identity across northern Iraq, northeastern Syria, southeastern Turkey, and northwestern Iran.

Facts

  • Ethnicity: Kurdish

  • Region: Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Armenia

  • Population: Around 60 million

  • Languages: Kurdish dialects (Kurmanji, Sorani, Zazaki, Gorani)

  • Religions: Mostly Sunni Islam (Shafi’i), with minorities of Shia, Alevi, Yazidis, and Christians.

  • Status: Stateless, one of the largest ethnic groups without an independent country

  • Key areas: Northern Iraq (Kurdistan Region), northeastern Syria, southeastern Turkey, northwestern Iran.

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Map: Kurdish Institute Brussels.

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