what is kurdish

The Kurds are an Iranian ethnic group native to the mountainous region of Kurdistan in Western Asia. They are one of the largest peoples without a state, making up sizable minorities in Iran, Iraq, Syria, Turkey, and Armenia. The Kurdish language is a West Iranian language related to Persian and Pashto, and the Kurds are thought to number from 25 million to 30 million. Most Kurds are Sunni Muslims, but there are also minorities of Shia Islam, Kurdish Alevism, Yazidism, Yarsanism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, and Christianity. The Kurds have a distinct culture, traditional dress, and holidays, including Nowruz, the springtime New Year. Despite their long history and distinct identity, the Kurds have never obtained a permanent nation-state.