Feyli Kurds
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Feyli Kurds (Kurdish: فیلیة Feylî, Faili or Pahlî, Arabic: الفیلیة Al-Fayliah) are a group of southern Kurds living in Baghdad and the Diyala Province of Iraq around Khanaqin and Mandali.
Feyli Kurds speak Feyli, a southern dialect of the Kurdish language. The roots of the Feyli Kurds go back to the Iranian immigrants of the first millennium BC. They embraced Islam in the early stages of the Islamic conquest and colonisation of Mesopotamia (Iraq) and Iran. Archaeological evidence from the Ilam Province in Iran does indicate though that a significant proportion of Feyli Kurds were Nestorian Christians until the 18th Century. When the Safavid dynasty (1507-1721) held sway over Persia, Feyli Kurds switched to the Shiite Gafarean doctrine under Persian influence.
In modern times the Feylis have undergone persectution. For a discussion of this, see Khesrau Goran Kurdistan through your eyes: volume I (Stockholm 1992) P 152: 161.
Etymology of the name
The origins and linguistic history of the Feyli Kurds has been invistigated by several notable western scholars such as Sir John Malcolm, Brown, Laurie, Hassle and Henry Field. Several imaginative if apocryphal etymologies for the word "Feyli" have been espoused. In the 13th century, Yaqout al-Hamawi mentions in his book The lexicon of countries (Ar. معجم البلدان Mujam al-Buldan) that the Feylis are those who reside the mountains separating Iran and Iraq. He attributes their name to their size, claiming that they are as huge as "elephants"; the word fil (فيل) means "elephant" in Arabic. Others have claimed that the name goes back to an ancient ruler of the territory.
However, more likely is the explanation given by M.R. Izady in his book The Kurds: A Concise Handbook (London, 1992). He claims that the Arabic Feyli is a corruption of Pahla, meaning Parthia, a kingdom based in modern day Iran contemporaneous with the Roman Empire. The change occurred because Arabic lacks a "p" (this sound change can also be seen in Palestine/Philistin فلسطين and Persian/Farsi فارسي). Early Arabic texts recorded the name as Fahla or Bahla, the former of which became the more common, corrupting eventually to Faila, of which the adjective is Faili or Feyli.
Kurdish Feyli's homeland
Since the ancient times, the Feylis have lived in the border area between Iraq and Iran, which consists of the Zagros Mountains and cliffs. They live on the two sides of this mountain in Iran and Iraq and they call it Kabir Kuh, in other words "The great mountain".
The areas in the Iraqi side from north to south are the following: Khanaqin, Shahraban (now it is called Al - Meqdadia), Mandalie, Badrah, Zorbateyah, Jassan, Al – Kut and Al-Azizyah. In addition to number of cities in the area of Shaikh Sa’ad, Ali Sharqi, Ali Gharbi and Al – Kofah which is 170 km south of Baghdad.
However, as early as the first decade of the 20th century, many Failis moved to Baghdad and lived in its center. So there are some areas which are named after them such as the Kurdish quarter, the Kurdish alley, and the Kurdish Street.
On the Iranian side, the Feyli Kurds live in the following areas, from north to south: Qasre Shirin, Kermanshah, Karand, Islam Abad Gharbi (former Shah Abad), Sarepol-e-Zahab, Gilan, Ilam, Saleh Abad, Moseyan, Badrah, Dehloran and Andimeshk.
The basic activity of the people of the border area is agriculture and sheep herding. They plant corn, barley, wheat, and summer vegetables as well as fruits on the mountains or on the flats. There are also some natural resources in the area such as oil (petroleum) at Naft Khanah (Iraq), Naft-Shahr, Dehluran (Iran), and natural gas at Tange Bidjar (Iran).
In the northern area people use the Al-Wand River which flows out from Harunabad & Gelan regions (Iran) towards Khaneqin before joining the Deyala River which pours into the Tigris River. There are also a few channels, wells and springs that help with the irrigation and domestic water use.
As for the weather, it is dry at summer but the mountains are usually covered with lays of snow, which melts in summer to irrigate the lands. In summer, many people move with their sheep to the tops of the mountains because there are wide areas of grass and when the winter comes, they go back to their villages. Some Kurds work in trade and goods exchange and other free works (urban professions).
The Kurdish people have proved to be so persistent and civilized as they studied hard to join the universities of the main cities and got good jobs. In his book "Ameroir of Baghdad" issued by Al-Rais publishing house, Cyprus 1993 the ex minister Mosa Al -Shabandar describes the life of the Faili Kurds. It is very difficult to give an accurate estimate of the Faili Kurds' population, as many of them in Iraq have been deported and ethnically clensed, however some estimate that about 2.5 millions lived in Iraq, and 3 million in Iran. The Iraqi Minorities Council and Minority Rights Group International estimate that prior to the current war there were 1,000,000 Failis in Iraq [1]
Tribes and clans
Feyli Kurds consist of many tribes and clans. Some of them are based on the name of their tribesman or the place they are living in, sometimes they take vocational names. Here we list some of them: Ali Sherwan tribe and his four sons Cheragh Wandi, Safar Wandi, Her Wandi, Dara Wandi, Malek Shahi tribe, Jamal Wandi tribe, Jaberi tribe, Ansari tribe, Laki tribe, Ckalhor tribe, Zouri or Zhohairi clan, Qaitoli clan, Khezell or Khaza`al clan, Showhan clan, Mousi clan and many more.
The Feyli Kurds in the Iraqi society
The existence of the Faili Kurds in Iraq has never been marginal, on contrary it has been elective on all levels and participated in all political, social, cultural, and economical activities as explained hereunder:
Politically
The Feyli Kurds suffered the worst oppression by Saddam and his Batthist government. They have contributed and taken part in the political activities such opposing all the dictatorial governments of Iraq and fighting beside other Iraqi people against their enemy. Through joining the national Iraqi parties such as the Iraqi communist party, the Kurdish Democratic Party KDP and the National Kurdish Association.
Many of the Feyli Kurds became active cadres in some organizations such as Al- Da’awa Islamic Party, Islamic Action Org., and other Islamic and secular parties. Others were involved in the ruling Baath party, although most of these were subsequently removed by Saddam Hussein.
Socially
The Feyli Kurds have had a very effective role in social life as they have established social centers, clubs, youth and women associations. This has been made possible due to the presence of many famous Feyli Kurds in different fields. They have also taken part in the establishment of many religious institutions and in the spread of religious awareness. The Feyli Kurds have also had great interest in studying religion and science.
Economically
The Feyli Kurds have had a great economical and commercial weight especially in Baghdad, and also have had great capitals, companies and factories. This pushed Saddam to confiscate their capital and properties and expel them to Iran , claiming that they are not genuine Iraqis and that they are Iranians.