09/02/2022
One Zarathushtra, Many Zoroastrians: Iraqi Kurds Reclaim Their Heritage.
Abstract
A faith-driven awakening has been achieved in Kurdistan, Iraq. Since 2015, reports continue to mount of several thousand Kurds that have declared themselves to be Zoroastrians and are practicing the faith – a bold and courageous move in an Islamic country. In that year, the Kurdish Regional Government enacted a law allowing its religious minorities to freely declare their religious affiliations. Zarathushtra’s divine message having resonated with them through the ages, the new law is formally facilitating a return to Zoroastrianism.
Under the theme “Bridging the Global Zoroastrian Existence”, the unique aspirations of Kurdish Zoroastrians will be examined in-depth before a worldwide audience. A long-time Zoroastrian activist from Kirkuk, Iraq, who has also translated the Gathas into the Kurdish language, is specially invited to give an objective account: of all aspects of the movement towards Zoroastrianism; the understanding and manner of practice of the faith; and the challenges faced and help and support that could be provided to Kurdish Zoroastrians.
The session is moderated by a scholar who has conducted on-the-ground research and studies in Iraq of minority faiths and is due to publish a book on Kurdish Zoroastrianism. The Moderator will expertly conduct the program to fully inform the audience of the salient features of the movement. A Q & A period will follow.
Speaker
Faiza F**d is a humanitarian and human rights activist from Kirkuk, Iraq. Spanning several decades, her work has involved the development of social services for women and children, advocacy for religious minorities, and the documentation of atrocities in the Anfal genocide. She has worked for a wide range of local and international NGOs, foreign consulates, and several UN agencies. Faiza is also one of the leading voices among Zoroastrian activists in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. Faiza first encountered Zoroastrianism in the early 1980s and began translating articles on the faith into Kurdish and Arabic. In 2006, she founded a Kirkuk-based organization dedicated to raising awareness of Zoroastrianism. She also partners with other Kurdish Zoroastrians to give lectures, produce publications, host religious events, and provide education related to Zoroastrianism. In 2019, she published a Kurdish translation of the Gathas. She currently serves as a board member of the Alliance of Iraqi Minorities.
Moderator
Matthew Travis Barber is a University of Chicago Ph. D. candidate who has studied Islamic thought and modern Middle East history. He was centrally involved in the response to the Yazidi Genocide (2014) and served as director of a humanitarian organization that developed aid and advocacy programs for the Yazidi community (2015-2016). His research and publications have dealt with political and human rights issues facing Middle Eastern minorities. These have included a report on the mass graves of Yazidis (2016), surveys of the situation of Assyrian and other Christian communities in Syria and Iraq (2016 & 2017), and a historical overview of the Yazidi Genocide (2022). He also assisted Nadia Murad, Iraq’s first Nobel Peace Prize recipient, in editing the manuscript of The Last Girl, her autobiographical account of surviving enslavement. Matthew has followed the Kurdish Zoroastrian movement for eight years and is completing a book that explores its history, literature, and the personal journeys of its members.
TitleOne Zarathushtra, Many Zoroastrians: Iraqi Kurds Reclaim Their Heritage.AbstractA faith-driven awakening has been achieved in Kurdistan, Iraq. Since 201...
