Kurds have been coming to the United States and Canada from Turkey, Iraq and Iran for decades. Thousands of Kurds fled Iraq during and subsequent to Saddam Hussein’s mass killings of Kurds through chemical and conventional warfare. Those who have gone to North America as refugees are survivors. Some of them were Kurdish freedom fighters who were tortured under Saddam Hussein’s regime. Perhaps six thousand Kurds now live in Southern Ontario, Canada. Hamilton, Ontario, a city of half a million people, is home to about 2,000 Kurds. Most of the Kurds in Hamilton come from Northern Iraq and speak a Kurdish dialect called Sorani. All of them are weary of the violence, persecution and killing still continuing in Iraq today.
Identity Crisis
Over 90% of the Kurds in Hamilton are from a Muslim background (although some are communist or atheist and a few are Zoroastrian). Today, many of the Kurds in Canada have shed their identity as Muslims. A few have even become anti-Muslim. Although still believers in God, they tend to be suspicious of any religion.
Pizza Anyone?
In Hamilton, Kurds have specialised in the pizza business. They operate and work long hours in small pizza shops that are open seven days a week. The Kurdish refugees and immigrants love the freedom they have found in Canada to be Kurdish, to gather freely and to speak their language. However many are drying up spiritually and becoming materialistic. Kurdish children in Canada are growing up between two worlds. With English as their most familiar language, they’re more comfortable in Canada than back “home” in Kurdistan. In Hamilton the Kurdish community runs a Kurdish language school for their own children in order to maintain their cultural and language roots.
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Reaching Out
In recent years some local Christians have made efforts to proclaim Christ among Ontario’s Kurds. These believers desire to establish a movement of Kurdish house churches. They really want to help Kurds discover Christ and to live their new found faith in a fully Kurdish manner. In 2006, two Kurdish brothers professed faith in Christ. The family of these brothers is open to the Gospel, but not ready to make a commitment. Unfortunately this seems to be a repeated pattern.
Prayer Requests:
* Pray that Canadian believers can show their Kurdish friends how to follow Christ. May the Lord Jesus Christ be glorified as Kurds, find the Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6).
* Pray that God will send dreams and visions in order that the Kurdish community will see their spiritual need and God’s provision through Jesus.
* Pray that Kurds will want to understand more of God’s story through the Bible and Christian films.
Background Information on CANADA is Here →
Hear the Gospel Message in Sorani (Iraq) Kurdish
Muslim Kurds? of course , I am Kurdish but at first I am a proudly Muslim Elhamdulillah. I was Christ but after the book of Mr. Davud Benyamin with title Muhammed in the Bible i found the treue Religion Islam and converted.
habibi ahmed , i don’t think you have ever read the Bible. There is no such thing as Mohamed in the Bible. The qoran is not the word of God. It has been invented by Mohamed. I suggest you follow Father Zakaria boutros programs on the hayat TV or by visiting islameyat.com best wishes
of course im not muslim and iam proud to be kurds islam invaited us by sowrd and killing islam religion are based on boold and darkness i was a muslim for 25 years after all those years now iam free of islam after i found out my profit mohammad was a (pedophile) Aisha & the Pedophile Profit of Islam …. if you are a real kurds then you shouldnt bo a muslim rhen go and ador arab all your life
i love Canada my wish is Canad god bless Canada..
I like live in canada
I need see my friend before I die my friend emigrated to Canada I hope I see him again
hiwa please answer to me
ha kurdo çawani to bashi es hivitkem to herdem bashbi ok noke bixatra te slav bo xelki kanada hemiya bye hijaaaaaaaa kuro delal
Iam as kurd will accept the islam faith and i believe the islam is the worth thing and a virus for the humanity that religoin is good only for arab and kurdish are been victmized buy that religoin and the quran are full of blood and killing the arb khazoo of islam has killed millions of kurds until the force them to became a muslim muslim are not a religoin of peace muslim a religoin of boold and slavery
Islam is in no way a religion of slavery, but rather a religion of freedom. You have not yet read the Koran. If you just read is in a neutral and pure sense then you will cry, you will certainly come back. But, unfortunately, the desires which the damned Satan are creating in the ignorance people make you disregard the Holy Koran. Alas. Islam is the religion which respects all the other religions along with the other prophets. To prove this true: the Holy Koran mentions all the other prophets, including Jesus (peace and blessing be upon him).
SHKAR IN SULAIMANI/ Kurdistan…But I will come t Canada soon to study my MA in English Literature.
a correction for my last comment /i ment Iam as a kurdish will not accept the muslim faith
There is no force in Islam. You must understand that Allah does not need you to protect Islam, but rather He, Himself always protects it. Islam will never melt away. All the world have long been trying to annihilate Islam, but no such luck. Allah is to protect it.
I am proudly Muslim, because I have found reality, beauty and immortality.
Dear Kak Sherwan, thank you for the comment. I need to make it clear for you all. Osama is in no way an Islam Leader, he is just a bloody agent, who is only working for CIA. I have read more than 1000 books on other religions, including Christianity. We all due respect, but Islam is the only religion which respects other religions. Those who claim to be Islam Leaders are far from the true Islam Leaders. I know that you see Islam through Al_ Qaeda and Jundullah or Iran, but in fact, Islam is far from such bloody groups. You must study Islam to understand it carefully and then decide. Are you aware of those scientists who are converting into Islam?! Are you aware of those scientific facts which are currently being discovered, which were said by the last Prophet Muhamed (p.b.u.h)?!
I was like you before, but I studied the poor Islam, then I understood that Islam is the religion of everlasting happiness.
kurdish are aryan who come from europe and live in the area between iraq, iran, and turkey and about 90% percent of them are muslims and i’m muslim too.
That’s right. Well done dear friend. You understood the reality.
I think that the religion factor of what I read above is kinda not true. Like the Bahdini kurds in Hamilton are very religious compared to the Soranis. Dont get me wrong, yes a lot of us dont fallow the rules like not wearing the right clothes etc. But when it comes to the teaching of Christianity. Hell no, we stick to Islam no matter what. And I dont think we’ll ever go down hill when it comes to forgetting our culture, only because we’re so proud
islam is religion not kurdish cultue be proud kurd
islam is religion of satan
No…Islam means peace, therefore it is the religion of peace likewise.
peace hahahahahaha actions speak louder than words zoaratrian says good deeds and good thought and jesus says turn the other cheek and islam says jihad”if u r a kurd wake up to reality peace to al my kurdish brothers and sisters
Dear pal…you must be mistaken. You do consider Al Qaeeyda as Islam, no never. They are not in deed within Islam principle. Jihad is something that you do not know anything of it. Do not think of those who are saying that Jihad is necessary nowadays and therefore we must fight and kill people…NO…NO…NO… Islam never said to fight and kill innocent people! I am sorry that a person lives in a civilized country, yet he is unaware of the reality of Life.
hi my knew friend i think we are getting somewhere first of all i didnt mention al qaeeyda but if you think al qaeeyda is not muslims then its your opinion but im not interested in that im interested in the truth there is four different jihads one form al qaeeyda does gets them 72 virgins sorry to dissapoint you the jihad you doing doesnt get you virgins
hello again my friend like i told u before im only interested in the truth not your conspiracy theories and bullshit. now let me tell u the truth that u are running from, there is two type of muslims, one of them are beleivers, the other is followers, i dont know which one are u, u sound confused. the first one are born in a muslim family ,they had no choice, thats called beleivers, they are victims of islam. the secomd one, there actions are known all over the world, they all promote jihad in a different way. some do it by hatred towards .so called infadels, and some by preaching so called islam. and some of them by financing mosques , islamic schools, halal shops and terrorism. this is the truth, nothing but the truth, so help me god, so called islamic dream, is a nightmare for the rest of humanity, peace,.
You are completely mistaken. I respect your opinion, no matter what it is!
What is important is that I am really happy that I am a Muslim. I am feeling ecstasy and safe.
Do you know a fact that more than one million unbelievers kill themselves because they do not know what to be happy with!
Why a Muslim cannot kill themselves? because they are happy!
You are sad most of the time, and to be certain of that fact, you can observe you, then you do know about it!
I do hope one day you understand!
there is an eternal river of nature constantly renewing itself everything flows nothing stands still in fact change is the only constant. to god all things are beautiful and good andjust. but men have supposed some things to be unjust. others just
blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit the earth. jesus christ
I am so surprised that we have kurds think in this sick way ,, all the west and us and canada respect people they dont care from where you come from or in what religion you believe ,,I admit only with 3 religions in this world which is Judaism and Christianity and islam and the rest are just stories or what ever ,,did any one know who is Saladin ,, any idea about this great leader in the east ,,, did any one of you read about him ,or its the west problem that they must know our history and make films about our heroes ,, but we only know how to hate every things , so surprise that we have kurds still need to re creat again and to go to school and learn themselves some history at least ,, shame on you when you hate other religion at the same time the west open his hands and heart to bear you ,,and bear your complex matters , so stop saying I hate islam , canada will not give you money for these comments and a blonde girl will not fall in love with you if she will read this , and even no one will respect you if you convert your religion >>>its not wave to mp3 ,,, we are proud that we are kurds yes and proud with our traditions and religion ,, be civilized and write with no hates.
do you care so much about kurds!! Mr,Grace , then I must remind you that we had in the past a very famous and strong leader in the east ,,, and you know him very well ,, well his name is Saladin ,, he was the angel of death for the Crusaders , they hated him so much and they still up till today ,,, and his name means the correct of religion , try to read some about him but if you have no idea what a book means or may be you have no idea how to spell your name , then watch the kingdom of heaven it is so famous film about the great Saladin >>>made in usa ,,, sorry Mr Grace we are so proud with our ISLAM
By three methods we may learn wisdom;first,by reflection,which is noblest;second,by imitation,which is easiest;and third by experience,which is the bitterest………CONFUCIUS….
hello dear kurds.
i myslef am a kurd and i am astonished that there are stilll kurds who defend islam.
in the words of michael aflaq, ‘Islam is to Arabism what bones are to the flesh. you cannot sepearte the two to be a nationalistic Kurd striving for independence you have to put your spirituality aside for the greater good of the Kurdish cause.
Islam came to the kurds and to the world by the sword and it has shown on more than one occasion that it is willing to use violence to protect itself. However, any true religion of god would not need petty thugs to murder, rape and pillage to protect itself, god would have created to be eternal, regardless of human attempts to destroy it.
there was a time when your ancestors were murdered by war warmongering Muslims and to think that you now defend it so vehemently is upsetting.
Islam has and continues to destroy Kurds, put it aside or keep it to yourself, independence is what we need not the daydreams of an illiterate arab.
you islamist kurds truely sicken me you are blind to the history of betrayal by Muslims which has left kurdistan shattered and without peace.
Hi to you all my dear friends.The entire planet is holy ground ,It”s strange how deserts turn us into believers.I believe in walking in a landscape of mirages, because you learn humility. I believe in living in a land of little water because life is drawn together. And I believe in the gtahering of bones as a testament to spirits that have moved on.If the desert is holy,it is because it is forgotten place that allows us to remember the sacred.perhaps that is why every pilgrimage to the derert is a pilgrimage to the self.There is no place to hide,and so we are found.
پاش ٢٥ ساڵ ئیسلامهتیم………)
أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال أمرت أن أقاتل الناس حتى يشهدوا أن لا إله إ لا الله وأن محمدا رسول الله ويقيموا الصلاة ويؤتوا الزكاة فإذا فعلوا ذلك عصموا منيدماءهم وأموالهم إلا بحق الإسلام وحسابهم على الله
پاش ٢٥ ساڵ ئیسلامهتیم گهشتمه ئهو باوهڕهی دینه سهپێنراوهکهی ئیسلام بهسهرما هیچ یهكسانیهكی مرۆڤایهتی تیانیه و ڤایرۆسه بۆ مرۆڤایهتی و كورد بهتایبهتی, كهوا بۆته كۆیلهی بههێزی شمشێر و تۆقاند به ئاگری جهههنهمهوهکورد تهنها میلهتێك بو ئیسلام جۆگهلهی خوێنی له کهلهی گهلهکهم دروستکرد کورد زۆر لهومهلاو وتاربێژانی مزگهوتهكانیش پیرۆزتره كه ڕێز له سرودی نهتهوایه تی و ئاڵای كوردناگرن لهدهست پانکردنهوه ش زیاتریان پێناکرێ تابتوانن بژێووی ژیانیان بههێز و بازووی خۆیان خۆیان بژێنن. دهمیش دهكهنهوه ده ڵێن ئیسلام بوون به زۆرداری نیه، بهناوی پێنج فهرزهی ئهڵڵاوه ههراسانمان دهکهن بهیانیان له سهدان لاوه خهریكی بانگدانن، یا له ڕهمهزانانا بهتهنهکه لێدان له خهو ڕامان ئهچڵهكێنن ئازادی مرۆڤ زهوت دهکهن بهناوی ڕێزگرتن لهدینه کهیان.خهڵكی دوچاری لێكۆڵینهوه و زیندان دهکهن که به ڕۆژ و نین و له شوێنه گشتیه كانا بۆیان نهبێت خواردن و خواردنهوه بخۆن . واتا گهر بانگدان نهبێت یا به تهنهكه لێدان خهڵكی بێزار نهكهن به دڵنیاییهوه له ٢٠٪ موستهسلیمان سهر نادهن بهفهرزه سهپێنراوهكانی ئیسلامدا، ئیسلام ئهپوكێتهوه. پاش ههڵگهڕانهوهم له ئیسلام ئهم وتهیهم به دهما هات بهبڕوایهكی تهواوهتیهوه توانیم خۆم لهژێر ئاڵای تاریكی ئیسلامدا ڕزگار کهم و ببمه مرۆڤێكی ئازاد بۆ ههتاهه تایی
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منیش پاش ٣٩ ساڵ ژیان لە وڵاتێکی وەک کەنەدا بۆم دەرکەوت کە زۆر گەمژەبوم، زۆر جاهیل بوم، زۆر سەر لێشێواو بوم کە ئەو ٣٩ ساڵەم بە گەمژەیی بەسەر برد…گەشتمە ئەو باوەرەی کە جوانی و سەرکەوتن و مانای دۆستایەتی و مرۆڤایەتی و رێزی ئافرەت و بەخشندەیی تەنها لە ئیسلامدایە…پاش ٣٩ ساڵ ئیشکردن لە بەیانیەوە هەتا نیوە شەو بەڵام لە کۆتایی هەفتەدا ئەو هەمو پارە جوانەم لە سێکس و مەشروب و دیسکۆدا بەفیرۆدەدا،،،،سوپاس بۆ خوا کە لەماوەی تەنها ٤٠ رۆژدا ژیانم گۆرا…ئێستا هەست ئەکەم کە مرۆڤم،،،هەست ئەکەم کە ئەوانەی دورن لە ئیسلام چەند گەمژەو سەرلێشێواون بە خۆشمەوە لە رابردودا…ئێستا هەست بە ئارامی ئەکەم…ئێستا تامی بەختەوەری ئەکەم…هەموو شەوێ ئەگریم هەتا بەیانی بۆ ئەو ٣٩ ساڵەی لە تاریکیدا تێپەربوو بێجگە لە بێهۆشی و سەرلێشێواوی هچی ترم بەدی نە ئەکرد…سوپاسی خوا ئەکەم کە ئێستا بە شانازیەوە ئەڵێم من کوردێکی بەختەوەری موسولمانم
ba nawe xway gawaraw mehraban
baraste aw beru bo chunay bareztan raechallakanm la naxawa mn estash law bawaradanem to la sar aw reye xoit bet barastte deyara to har banaw muslem buet nak ba dall bray barezm deyara to ba tamay zhane be kotay yan hargez ba beret dana hatuwa ka damret dacheyawa bar dastte aw zatay ka esllame la regay muhamad(d.x) lebe boy nardue mn hargez bawar nakam kurdeke ba sharaf wa ber bakatawa hiwadarm ta waku xoll nakrawata sart berek la dwaroje xot bakaetawa to ager zor zor bazhet ba 100 sal enshalla am beru bochunat la dallawa nabet
Tofff 3ala islam al nagss
My husband is a Kurd and has been a Christian for over a year now. He moved to Canada as a kid and I am an Indian Christian from Malaysia. I have always had a heart to serve in the middle east, to fight for the rights of people like the Kurds who have been treated unfairly over the years. I believe that’s where God has called me to serve and love. Even the way God brought us both together is nothing but an amazing story and a testimony to His glory.
We are both still very young, he is 25 and I am 21. He is doing his second degree and I am finishing my current degree but I just thought to share that God is amazing and through the love of Christ hearts are healed and joy is restored. My husband’s devotion to Him is admirable and four years ago I never thought the both of us would be here today, married and surrendered to Christ and His will for us both. My husband has seen things and experienced things that I can never understand but he always tells me knowing Christ has brought him joy, peace and love that he has never felt before. He is as passionate as I am about fighting for justice and sharing the love of Christ.
I hope this brings hope to those who have a hard time dealing with their new found faith in Christ. It wasn’t easy for him with his family and all but we continue to love them and be there for them despite their disapproval of us and our love for Christ…
Wonderful testimony, most encouraging, thank you!
I am Kurdish Canadian, previously muslim, now non- religious. However, If I chose a religion again, I would chose christianity not Islam. Big muslim nations, turks arabs persian, are big enemy of Kurds. They persecuted them all time and most these countries people coorperata with their goverment against vulnarable and minority Kurds. Shame on them!
me too
I wouldn’t call this report anywhere to be realistic. Most of the Kurds in Hamilton area are of Alawi sect of Islam, whom are mostly anti-islamic even in their homeland (Maras, Turkey). I don’t mean no disrespect but this is the reality. You won’t see the Sunni (orthodox) Muslims denouncing their religion in such a short period of time.
And yes I am a Canadian Kurd, and I am a proud Muslim.