Most of the Northern Kurd living in Lebanon came from southeastern Turkey. The first Kurds arrived during the "French Mandate" (a period when the French occupied Lebanon) and were able to secure Lebanese citizenship. Since 1961, a few thousand additional Kurds have obtained residence permits in Lebanon. However, their citizenship has never been finalized, so they are regarded as non-citizens.

What are their lives like?
The Northern Kurd of Lebanon have been in a weak position both socially and economically. Though ill-paid for their unskilled manual labor, they cannot press for better conditions for fear of deportation.

Since Lebanon's civil war began in 1975, the Northern Kurd have been among the country's most oppressed people. Many of them, as well as a number of Syrians and Shi'ite Muslims from southern Lebanon, have been massacred in the war. Others have fled to the beach slums of southern Beirut. Some have returned to Syria because of the bleak conditions in Lebanon.

The Kurds are noted for their elaborate and colorful national costumes, which are made of both local and imported fabrics. The men's costumes consist of baggy, colored trousers and plain shirts with huge sleeves split at the wrist and tied at the elbow. Brilliantly colored vests and sashes are also worn. Women usually wear heavy clothing that is brightly embroidered. However, many rural dwellers have abandoned their native costumes for western style dress.

The most important Kurdish national festival is the New Year celebration which is held on March 21st. This is a long ceremony that may continue for a week or more. Many specific foods and condiments are prepared in advance. Special flowers are grown for the occasion and branches covered with fresh buds are cut and made to adorn the feast. New clothes are worn, and some old pottery is broken for good luck. People visit each other's houses, and old feuds and misunderstandings are reconciled for the occasion. Gifts are given by seniors to their juniors in age, and high ranking social figures are paid visits and brought gifts.

What are their beliefs?
Nearly all Kurds are Muslims, most being Shafiite Sunnis. They first embraced Islam after the Arab conquests of the seventh century. They look to Islam as a basis for social justice.

However, despite being predominantly Sunnis, religion has created deep rifts among the Kurds. These differences also have prejudicial overtones towards the lower class. Many of the dispossessed Kurd minorities have become associated with the secret and unorthodox sects of Islam - the most fervently rebellious people in Kurdish society.

What are their needs?
There is currently only one missions agency targeting the Northern Kurd of Lebanon. The Islamic religion is very difficult to penetrate and very little progress has been made. Though the New Testament and the Jesus film are available in their language, there are only 36 known believers among them. Christian radio and television broadcasts as well as literature are needed to successfully reach them with the Gospel.

Many of the Northern Kurd living in Lebanon are regarded as "non-citizens." They live in fear of being deported, and accept sub-standard wages for their labors. They need to know that they are worth something to God and are valuable in His eyes.

Prayer Points

• Ask the Lord to call people who are willing to go to Lebanon and share Christ with the Northern Kurd.
• Ask the Holy Spirit to soften the hearts of the Muslim Kurds towards Christianity.
• Pray that God will raise up Lebanese Christians as a clear Gospel witness to the Muslim Kurds.
• Ask God to strengthen, encourage, and protect the few known Northern Kurd Christians.
• Pray that God will raise up qualified linguists to complete translation of the entire Word of God into Kurmanji.
• Ask the Lord to give missions agencies strategies for reaching the Kurd population.
• Pray that a strong local church will be raised up among the Northern Kurd of Lebanon by the year 2000.

See also profiles on the following Kurd groups: The Alveica of Turkey; The Dimili of Turkey; The Herki of Turkey, Iran and Iraq; The Kurd of Afghanistan, Kazakstan and Kyrgyzstan: The Northern Kurd of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Turkey and Armenia; The Southern Kurd of Iraq and Iran; the Western Kurd of Syria; and the Shikaki of Turkey.

THE PEOPLE

• People name: Northern Kurd
• Country: Lebanon
• Their language: Kurmanji
• Population: (1990) 101,700
  (1995) 119,800
  (2000) 130,900
• Largest religion: Muslims (Sunnis) 90%
  Muslims (Shias) 9.9%
• Christians: <1%
• Church members: 36
• Scriptures in their own language: New Testament
• Jesus Film in their own language: Available
• Christian broadcasts in their own language: None
• Mission agencies working among this people: 1
• Persons who have heard the Gospel: 30,000 (25%) Those evangelized by local Christians: 3,600 (3%)
  Those evangelized from the outside: 26,400 (22%)
• Persons who have never heard the Gospel: 89,800 (75%)

• Country: Lebanon
• Population: (1990) 25,553,300
  (1995) 30,087,700
  (2000) 32,887,700
• Major peoples in size order: Lebanese Arab 73.4%
  Palestinian Arab 12.1%
  Armenian 6.8%
  Northern Kurd 3.9%
  Syrian Arab 0.8%
• Major religions: Christians 49.4%
  Muslims 47.3%
  Nonreligious 2.4%
• Number of denominations: 39