Description
By (author) Corticelli Maria Rita
:
The Kakais are a Kurdish-speaking indigenous population belonging to the Yarsan religion, originating from the Zagros Mountains in present-day Northern Iraq. There are currently around 200,000 Kakais in Iraq, but due to a history of heavy persecution, including targeting by ISIS, the community is under threat of disappearing.
This book is based on historical research, interviews, and in-depth fieldwork, as well as on their available original texts. It explores the resilience of the Kakai religious group in Iraq amid violence and war, emphasizing their values of humility, peace, and tolerance, and showcasing their struggle for recognition in the face of persecution. It touches on recent events affecting them and calls for international support and recognition of the Kakai community”s unique challenges.
Table of contents:
Figures.
Acknowledgements.
Abbreviations.
Introduction.
Chapter 1.
The Kakais of Iraq.
Survival and renewal
The Long Road to the Kakais.
Chapter 2.
Surviving the End of Paganism.
The Last Pagans of Iraq?
Who are the Kakais?
Chapter 3.
Kakais and esoteric tradition. 104
The Way of the Derwishes.
Chapter 4.
Sounds from the past
Perdivar and Sultan Sahaq.
Hawar: the heart of Kakai religion.
Conclusion.
Bibliography.
Notes.
Review quote:
The book explores the resilience of the Kakai religious group in Iraq amid violence and war, emphasizing their values of humility, peace, and tolerance, showcasing their struggle for recognition in the face of persecution. It touches on recent events affecting religious minorities in Iraq and calls for international support and recognition of the Kakai community”s unique challenges.
Biographical note:
Maria Rita Corticelli is an independent writer and editor. She collaborates with various academic and research institutions. She is the author of Religious Minorities in Iraq: Co-Existence, Faith and Recovery after ISIS (I.B. Tauris 2022).
Luqman Rashid is a Kakai activist from Iraqi Kurdistan. He holds an MA degree in International Studies from the University of Erbil-Hawler in the Kurdistan Region. He has published articles in both Kurdish and English on the Yarsanis in the Kurdistan region and he is the author of Arabic and Kurdish books on the situation of religious minorities in Iraq. He advocates for the recognition of Yarsanis in Iraq.
Promotional headline:
The first book to document the beliefs, history and culture of the Kakais in Iraq, based on their sacred texts and interviews with members of the community
Feature:
The first book on the Kakais of Iraq written by a member of the community itself, who has access to their sacred texts.
Feature:
For the first time, the history, religion and culture of this group will be explained through the Yarsans’ religious books, which are difficult to access.
Feature:
Based on fieldwork carried out by the authors including interviews with the dervishes and members of the community who are in charge of protecting and preserving Yarsan shrines and cultural and material heritage.
Feature:
Shows how this religious community’s faith has helped them to survive and preserve their identity during the various moments of rupture in Iraq’s history.
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