Azarbaijani Kurds

The Azarbaijani Kurds (Kurdish: Kurdên Azirbaycanê/Adirbaycanê) are among the original Iranian populations of Azerbaijan (ancient Atropatene),, and traditionally mostly inhabited the areas in western regions of Azerbaijan around Lake Urmia.,
History
Shortly after Islamic conquest in 7th century, Kurds like their forefathers again played an important role in the political scene of Azerbaijan. Some of better known Kurdish dynasties and principalities of Azerbaijan include: Hadhabanis, Shaddadids, Rawadids, Mukriyans, etc.
According to Encyclopædia Iranica, the first Turks who entered Azerbaijan were mercenary archers imported and employed by medieval Kurdish dynasties.
A medieval Kurdish Sufi family in Ardabil (literally: soft soil in Kurdish) founded one of important Iranian dyansties: the Safavids, who are credited as a dynasty who rebuilt Iran after centuries of foreign invasion by Arabian (Muslim) and Turanian (Mongol) tribes.
As of mid 20th century Kurds of Azarbaijan established a short-lived Soviet-backed republic centered at Mahabad.,
Demographics
Although today Kurds are present at almost every region of West Azerbaijan Province of Iran, and form a substantial portion of the population of the province, there are only a few small enclaves of Kurds left in East Azerbaijan Province. Some of the ancient cities inhabited by Kurds, which later became subject to Turkification are Bonab, whose name in Kurdish Binaw (Under water) points to the city being subject to tidewater of Lake Urmia, Maragha, Tabriz whose Kurdish name Tawrêz literally means respected sun, (all in East Azerbaijan Province), Khoy (meaning salt in Kurdish, referring to salt mines in the region) and Miandoab (both In West Azerbaijan Province). The city of Urmia, although during beginning of 20th century was partially turkified, today has reabsorbed a sizeable Kurdish population from predominantly Kurdish surrounding villages.
Religion
Today almost all of the Kurds in Azerbaijan are Shafiite Sunni Muslims; a very small group are also followers of Yarsan.> Numerous fire temples, in the area, points to the fact that once Zoroastrianism and other Aryan religions were practiced by the locals.,
Tribes
Western Azerbaijan
The most important Kurdish tribes in that region are Jalali (around Maku), Milan (also around Maku), Haydaranlu (on the Turkish border, southwest of Maku), Donboli (Turki-speaking, around Khoy and Salmas), Korahsunni (Kurdicized Turks, southwest of Khoy), Shekkak (south of Salmas), Herki (around Urmia), Begzada (south of Urmia), Zerza (on the Iraqi border, west of OShnaviya), Piran (on the Iraqi border, southwest of Naqada), Mamash (around Naqada), Mangur (southwest of Mahabad), Mokri (around Mahabad), Dehbokri (east of Mahabad), Gowrak (south of Mahabad, around Sardasht and northwest of Saqqez), Malkari (around SardaSht), Suseni (west of Saqqez), Fayz-Allah-begi (northeast of Saqqez).
Eastern Azerbaijan
In Qarajadagh (today Arasbaran), that is, the region between the Aras river and the Sabalan mountain range, there are six ShiÊ¿ite, Turki-speaking tribes of Kurdish origin: chalabianlu , MoHammad Khanlu, Hosaynaklu, Haji Ê¿Alilu , Hasan Beglu, and Qarachorlu. In KhalKhal, that is, the region between the BozghuSh mountains and the Qezel Uzen (owzan) river, there are seven ShiÊ¿ite, Turki-speaking tribes of Kurdish origin: Delikanlu, Kolukjanlu (an offshoot of the Shekkak), Shaá¹ranlu (also an offshoot of the Shekkak), AHmadlu, Shadlu, RaShvand, and Mamanlu. Finally, there are ShiÊ¿ite, Turki-speaking Shekkak occupying vast areas northeast and northwest of Miyana<ref name=OBERLINGIranica />.

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