Kurds in Lebanon
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 60,000[1] | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Beirut | |
| Languages | |
| Kurdish and Arabic | |
| Religion | |
| Islam | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Kurds |
Kurds in Lebanon are people born in or residing in Lebanon who are of Kurdish origin. Estimates on the number of Kurds in Lebanon prior to 1985 were around 60,000.[2] Today, there are tens of thousands of Kurds in Lebanon, mainly in Beirut.[3]
History[edit]
Most Kurds in Lebanon have come in recent decades, but the Kurdish community of Lebanon dates back to the 12th century, when Lebanon was ruled by the Kurdish Ayyubid dynasty.[4] The Ottomans also sent loyal Kurdish families to modern-day Syria and Lebanon, where they got administrative roles.[4] These Kurdish groups settled in and ruled many areas of Lebanon for a long period of time.[5]:27
The first modern wave of Kurdish immigration to Lebanon was in the period of 1925-1950 when thousands of Kurds fled violence and poverty in Turkey.[6] The second wave of Kurds entered in the late 1950s and early 1960s, most of whom fled from political repression in Syria and Turkey.[4] During the early 1990s, the Lebanese government destroyed many squatter quarters in Beirut, where many Kurds lived, leading to the emigration of nearly one quarter of Lebanon's Kurdish population.[4]
During the Lebanese Civil War, Kurds fought for the Lebanese National Movement.[7]
Current status[edit]
As of 2012, around 40% of all Kurds in Lebanon do not have Lebanese citizenship.[4]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-12-05. Retrieved 2014-03-09.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- ^ "People: Information & Library Science: Indiana University" (PDF). Retrieved 13 November 2014.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Historical Dictionary of Lebanon - Page 125 by Asʻad AbuKhalil
- ^ a b c d e "Kurds in Lebanon endure poverty, grapple with assimilation". Retrieved 13 November 2014.
- ^ Lokman I. Meho; Kelly L. Maglaughlin. Kurdish Culture and Society: An Annotated Bibliography.
- ^ A Modern History of the Kurds - Page 485 by David MacDowall
- ^ "Kurds in Lebanon endure poverty, grapple with assimilation". Ekurd.net (via The Daily Star Lebanon). 9 February 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
External links[edit]
- The Kurds in Lebanon: a social and historical overview
- Lokman I. Meho and Farah W. Kawtharani. "The Kurdish community in Lebanon" (PDF).
- Kurdistan Democratic Party Lebanon