Iraqi Lurs

Iraqi Lurs (Arabic: الوار العراق‎‎, Lurish:لوره یل عیراق) also referred to as Lurs in Iraq refers to ethnic Iranian people living in Iraq. Iraqi Lurs are a group of Feyli Lurs located mainly in Baghdad, Wassit and the Diyala Province of Iraq around Mandali, Khaneqin and across the Iranian border. They know themselves as Feylis and also Feyli Kurds. However, they are considered as Kurdish Lurs by themselves. Soane (1926), mentioned presence of Feyli Lurs in Kirkuk bazaars. In 1920, Lurs were 4.3% of Nasiriyah city, in Southern Iraq.Freya Stark (1932 and 1934) referred to Lurish residence in Iraq and mentioned the Iraqi Lurs as the most beautiful inhabitants of Baghdad.

The exact number of Iraqi Lurs is unknown, due to the absence of recent and extensive census data but some sources evaluated their population from 80000 to 150000 people.

Iraqi Lurs speak Feyli, a language that belongs to the Lurish language and includes Laki and Kelhuri dialects.Feyli is spoken particularly on both sides of the border areas between Iraq and Iran. Schmitt (1989), cited Baghdadi Lurish as an Iranian language spoken in Iraq.

In Iraq,especially during Baath regime the political situation has been disastrous and tragic toward the Lurs. Since 1975,political factors have resulted in the mass migration of most Iraqi Lurs to Iran, where they share a greater degree of ethnic and religious affinity with the national population. The existence of the Lurs in Iraq has never been marginal. On the contrary, they have participated in all political, social, cultural, and economical activities.

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