[RC] Zoroastrian revival in Kurdistan

[BILROJ via Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community]

The Daily Beast
May 31, 2015
 
 
 
Fed Up With Islam and Sectarianism,  Some Iraqis Embrace Zoroastrianism

 
 
Confused and disheartened by the  religious and ethnic divides in Iraq, 
Kurds, especially, are turning to a faith  that dates back 3,500 years.
By Alaa Latif 
SULAYMANIYAH, Iraq — One of the _smallest and oldest religions_ 
(http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/zoroastrian/)  in the world is  
experiencing a 
revival in the semi-autonomous region of Iraqi Kurdistan. The  religion has 
deep Kurdish roots—it was founded by Zoroaster, also known as  Zarathustra, 
who was born in the Kurdish part of Iran 3,500 years ago, and the  religion’
s sacred book, _the Avesta_ 
(http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/45645/Avesta) , was written in an 
ancient language from which  the Kurdish 
language derives. 
In this century, however, it is estimated that there are only around 
190,000  believers in the world. After Islam became the dominant religion in 
the 
region  during the 7th century, Zoroastrianism more or less disappeared. 
Until—quite possibly—now. 
For the first time in over a thousand years, locals in a rural part of  
Sulaymaniyah province conducted an ancient ceremony on May 1, whereby followers 
 put on a special belt that signifies they are ready to serve the religion 
and  observe its tenets. It would be akin to a baptism in the Christian 
faith. 
The newly pledged Zoroastrians have said that they will organize similar  
ceremonies elsewhere in Iraqi Kurdistan and they have also asked permission 
to  build up to 12 temples inside the region, which has its own borders, 
military,  and Parliament. 
Zoroastrians are also visiting government departments in Iraqi Kurdistan 
and  they have asked that Zoroastrianism be acknowledged as a religion 
officially.  They even have their own anthem and many locals are attending 
Zoroastrian events  and responding to Zoroastrian organizations and pages on 
social 
media. 
Although as yet there are no official numbers showing how many Kurdish 
locals  are actually turning to this religion, there is certainly a lot of 
discussion  about it. And those who are already Zoroastrians believe that as 
soon 
as locals  learn more about the religion, their numbers will increase. They 
also seem to be  selling the idea of Zoroastrianism by saying that it is 
somehow “more Kurdish”  then other religions — certainly an attractive idea 
in an area where many locals  care more about their ethnic identity than 
religious divisions. 
“This religion will restore the real culture and religion of the Kurdish  
people,” says Luqman al-Haj Karim, a senior representative of Zoroastrianism 
and  head of the Zoroastrian organization, Zand, who believes that his 
belief system  is more “Kurdish” than most. “The revival is a part of a 
cultural 
revolution,  that gives people new ways to explore peace of mind, harmony 
and love,” he  insists
 
 
In fact, Zoroastrians believe that the forces of good and evil are  
continually struggling in the world, and this is why many locals also suspect  
that 
this religious revival is related to the security crisis caused by the  
extremist group known as the Islamic State and the deepening sectarian and  
ethnic divides in Iraq. 
“The people of Kurdistan no longer know which Islamic movement, which  
doctrine or which fatwa they should be believing in,” says Mariwan Naqshbandi,  
the spokesperson for Iraqi Kurdistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs. He 
tell us  that the interest in Zoroastrianism is a symptom of the disagreements 
within  Islam and religious instability in the Iraqi Kurdish region, as well 
as in the  country as a whole. 
“For many more-liberal or more-nationalist Kurds, the mottos used by the  
Zoroastrians seem moderate and realistic,” Naqshbandi explains. “There are 
many  people here who are very angry with the Islamic State group and its  
inhumanity.” 
Naqshbandi also confirmed that his Ministry would help the Zoroastrians  
achieve their goals. The right to freedom of religion and worship was 
enshrined  in Kurdish law and Naqshbandi said that the Zoroastrians would be 
represented in  his offices. 
Zoroastrian leader al-Karim isn’t so sure whether it is the Islamic State, 
or  ISIS, that is changing how locals think about religion. “The people of 
Kurdistan  are suffering from a collapsing culture that actually hinders 
change,” he  argues. “It’s illogical to connect Zoroastrianism with the ISIS 
group. We are  simply encouraging a new way of thinking about how to live a 
better life, the  way that Zoroaster told us to.” 
On local social media there has been much discussion on this subject. One 
of  the most prevalent questions is this: Will the Kurds abandon Islam 
altogether in  favor of other beliefs? 
“We don’t want to be a substitute for any other religion,” al-Karim 
replies.  “We simply want to respond to society’s needs.” 
Even if al-Karim doesn’t admit it, it is clear to everyone else that  
committing to Zoroastrianism would mean abandoning Islam. But even those who  
want to take on the Zoroastrian “belt” are staying well away from denigrating  
any other belief system. This may be one reason why, so far, Islamic clergy 
and  Islamic politicians haven’t criticised the Zoroastrians openly. 
One local politician, Haji Karwan, an MP for the Islamic Union in Iraqi  
Kurdistan, tells us he doesn’t think that so many people have actually 
converted  to Zoroastrianism anyway. He also thinks that those promoting the 
religion are  few and far between. “But of course, people are free to choose 
whatever religion  they want to practice,” Karwan told us. “Islam says there’s 
no compulsion in  religion.” 
On the other hand, Karwan disagrees with the idea that any religion—let 
alone  Zoroastrianism—is specifically “Kurdish” in nature. Religion came to 
humanity as  a whole, not to any one specific ethnic group, he  says.

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