Rowanduz: A Kurdish administrative and mercantile center.

Masters,-William-M.

Society-Kurd-Middle-East

Rowanduz

1951

A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements 
for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the University of Michigan: 
Ann Arbor, Michigan.

171

1953

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Arabs, Kurds, Turkomans, and Turks. There are Persian minorities in 
the cities of central and southern Iraq, but they fall under the religious 
classification of Shi'ah and there seems to be no conflict between 
them and Arabs of their own persuasion. The Turks are few in number 
and are concentrated in the middle and upper classes. In the days 
before the liberation of Iraq, there was bitter enmity toward the 
Turks as the representatives of Ottoman rule, but this has disappeared 
in recent years and there is no restriction, as, indeed, there never 
was, on marriage between members of this class and Sunnite Muslims, 
Arabs and Kurds, of comparable status. A survey of the lists of officials 
and army officers reveals the remarkable extent to which the survivors 
of Ottoman rule have retained their position in the government service. 
The Turkomans are gathered in central and northeastern Iraq, mainly 
about Altun Keupri and Koi Sanjaq, and have been unspectacular in 
national affairs, largely farmers and shepherds, a remnant of the 
famous Horde of the White Sheep. Again, there appears to be no restriction 
on marriage with Sunnite Muslims, but there is little reason for an 
Arab, Kurd, or Turk of the upper classes to take an illiterate, impoverished 
bride from among them.

The matter of Arab and Kurd is quite otherwise, for in the case of 
the latter there is a well-armed minority population, Muslims, and 
hence free of the susceptibilities of religious attack, with a strong 
base in agriculture and animal husbandry. They are estimated at 400,000 
persons,
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Regulation-Of-Marriage

101; 186; 563; 582; 648

DOC:3706