Faili Kurds or Pahla

Iraqi Faili Kurds deported to iran 1970-1990 — During the mid of 1970s, Iraq under the power of Saddam’s regime, expelled to Iran a large number of Faili Kurds who had lived in Iraq for generations near the city of Baghdad and Khanaqin. Photo: iKurd.net/Archive

Dr. Ala Musa Hasan | Exclusive to iKurd.net

Historically, the Al-Faili name was generated from the Arabic language, and the actual name was (Pahla), meaning Parthia, which was a kingdom that was based in the modern day of Iran, and it was contemporaneous with the Roman Empire.

This change occurred due to the Arabic alphabet, that lacks the letter p, rendering it as an “f” Since ancient times, the Al-Faili Kurds have lived in the border area between Iraq and Iran, which consists of both sides of the Zagros Mountains. The Al-Faili Kurds lived in the following areas of Iraq: Khanaqin, Al-Meqdadia, Mandali, Badrah, Zorbateyah, Jassan, Al-Kut, and Al-Azizyah.

They also reside in a number of cities in the area of Shaikh Sa’ad, Ali Sharqi, Ali Gharbi and Al-Kofah, and Baghdad. On the other hand, on the Iranian side, the Al-Faili Kurds live in Qasr-Shirin, Kermanshah, Karand, Eslamabad, Sarpol-Zahab, Gilan-Gharb, and Ilaamm.

However, it is very sad to acknowledge that since the 19th century and so on, the Al-Faili Kurds have been subject to state persecution. They were considered a stateless people within both countries Iran and Iraq, which both countries claiming that the Al-Faili Kurds are citizens of the other country.

During the mid of 1970s, Iraq under the power of Saddam’s regime, expelled to Iran a large number of Al-Faili Kurds who had lived in Iraq for generations near the city of Baghdad and Khanaqin, alleging that they have Iranian descent. However, today, the new Iraqi government failed to address the issues of Al-Faili Kurds and they are still segregated and discriminated against and they are considered second class citizens.

The current government has a difficult time to give an accurate estimate of the Al-Faili population in Iraq, because they did not take the time to do a careful and a qualitative research on this population, as well as, many of them have been deported to Iran and they were ethnically cleansed. As well as, many of them were forced to migrate to other countries around the world seeking a safe place to live and raze their children with dignity and respect.

Dr. Ala Musa Hasan, a Canada-based Faili Kurd, PHD Candidates in Clinical Psychology.

The opinions are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of iKurd.net or its editors.