The Shikaki Kurd are a confederacy of tribes of Northern Kurdistan. They live primarily in the mountainous area where the borders of Turkey, Iran, and Iraq meet, in the district of Dustan and Qotur, northwest of Lake Urmia. These various tribes and clans are distinguished by the languages they speak. The Shikaki language is possibly a dialect of Kurmanji. Apart from the 18,600 Shikaki Kurd of Turkey, other large communities can also be found in Iran and Iraq.

What are their lives like?
In recent times, particularly since the early 1930's, the primitive, tribal organizations of the Shikaki Kurd have been largely suppressed by the Turkish government. As a result, many of the nomads have moved from the rural, economically depressed areas into the cities. There, industry provides jobs for about 6% of the population, while the others are engaged in trade, services, and craft work.

Basic Kurdish society is mainly rural, with most people making their living from farming and raising livestock. Most of them are fairly settled. However, some still practice a semi-nomadic lifestyle, moving from place to place with their herds of goats and sheep. The nomadic shepherds move into the mountain areas during the summer and down to the plains in the winter.

Although Kurdish farming techniques are somewhat archaic, they are now being integrated into the Turkish capitalist market. Cotton, sugar, beets, and tobacco, are replacing the traditional food crops. The Kurds grow them for the Turkish market and for export. Kurdistan is also the main source for cattle, sheep, goats, and animal products in Turkey.

The daily diet for most Kurds is built around bread, dairy products, dates, tea, and meat. The wealthy have a more varied diet. Pork and alcoholic beverages are tabooed.

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

Even among the Sunni Kurds, there are traces of an earlier pagan and violent type faith which sets them apart from other Muslims. In the rural areas, a few still believe in jinnis (spirits capable of assuming human or animal forms) and demons. Many are also involved in elements of animal worship.

Mullahs (Muslim spiritual leaders) play an important role in the social and cultural life of those living in the country. Until recent times, mullahs would act as village witch doctors, performing ceremonies and reciting chants to drive out madness or cure the sick.

Religious fraternities still operate throughout this region of the world. In the past, some influential sheiks (spiritual leaders) even became members of parliament. However, their authority eventually began to crumble. Today, their spiritual and economic power is being challenged.

What are their needs?
The Shikaki Kurd of Turkey have had very little exposure to the Gospel. They have not rejected the Good News; they simply have never heard.

Although one missions agency has targeted the Shikaki Kurd of Turkey, their progress has been minimal. Currently, there are no known believers within their group.

The Bible has not yet been translated into the Shikaki language, and there are no Christian radio or television broadcasts available. Laborers, a translation of the scripture, and other evangelistic materials are desperately needed to reach them with the Light of the Gospel.

Prayer Points

• Take authority over the spiritual principalities and powers that are keeping the Shikaki bound.
• Ask the Lord to call people who are willing to go to Turkey and share Christ with the Shikaki Kurd.
• Pray that God will call out prayer teams to break up the soil through worship and intercession.
• Ask God to give missions agencies strategies for reaching these Muslims with the Gospel.
• Pray that God will raise up qualified linguists to translate the Bible into the Shikaki language.
• Ask the Holy Spirit to soften their hearts towards Christians so that they will be receptive to the Gospel.
• Pray that God will open the hearts of Turkey's governmental leaders to the Gospel.
• Ask the Lord to raise up a triumphant Church among the Shikaki Kurd for the glory of His name!

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, Lebanon, Turkey and Armenia; The Southern Kurd of Iraq and Iran; and the Western Kurd of Syria.

THE PEOPLE

• People name: Shikaki
• Country: Turkey
• Their language: Shikaki
• Population: (1990) 16,800
  (1995) 18,600
  (2000) 20,300
• Largest religion: Mulsim (Sunni) 100%
• Christians: None
• Church members: None
• Scriptures in their own language: None
• Jesus Film in their own language: None
• Christian broadcasts in their own language: None
• Mission agencies working among this people: 1
• Persons who have heard the Gospel: 900 (5%) Those evangelized by local Christians: None
  Those evangelized from the outside: 900 (5%)
• Persons who have never heard the Gospel: 17,700 (95%)

• Country: Turkey
• Population: (1990) 56,097,700
  (1995) 61,945,200
  (2000) 67,747,900
• Major peoples in size order: Turk 66.2%
  Northern Kurd 8.8%
  Turkish Kurd 8%
  Crimean Tatar 7%
  Levantine Arab 1.8%
• Major religions: Muslims 99.4%
  Nonreligious 0.3%
  Christians 0.2%
• Number of denominations: 34