Kurds in Lebanon

Kurds in Lebanon
Total population
60,000[1]
Regions with significant populations
Beirut
Languages
Kurdish and Arabic
Religion
Sunni Islam
Related ethnic groups
Iranian people

Kurds in Lebanon refers to 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

Most Lebanese Kurds have come to Lebanon 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

The Bekaa Valley in Lebanon, where many Syrian Kurdish refugees have taken shelter.

As of 2012, around 40% of all Kurds in Lebanon do not have Lebanese citizenship.[4]

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.al-akhbar.com/ar/node/216451
  2. ↑ "People: Information & Library Science: Indiana University" (PDF). Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  3. ↑ Historical Dictionary of Lebanon - Page 125 by Asʻad AbuKhalil
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Kurds in Lebanon endure poverty, grapple with assimilation". Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  5. ↑ Lokman I. Meho; Kelly L. Maglaughlin. Kurdish Culture and Society: An Annotated Bibliography.
  6. ↑ A Modern History of the Kurds - Page 485 by David MacDowall
  7. ↑ "Kurds in Lebanon endure poverty, grapple with assimilation". Ekurd.net (via The Daily Star Lebanon). 9 February 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2012.

External links

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