Kaka'is - The men with big moustaches

Kurdistan 05:37 PM - 2022-01-11

According to information on the internet the Kaka'is are either a sect, a clan or a religion. They are also called the followers of the Yarsani faith which is considered as a monotheist and syncretic religion because their belief includes elements of Islam and Zoroastrianism and dates back to the 14th century. The Kaka'is belief in one god, the creator and it's 7 incarnations who spoke the true teachings of god. One of them was Sultan Sahak, born in Slemani and named the Sultan of truth.  

But who are they? 

The moustache in Kurdistan is a long-dated tradition but mostly they are properly cut and every hair is in order. But if you see a moustache that is overgrowing the upper lip then he most likely is a Kaka'i. They shave regularly their beards but are not very often trimming the moustache. It’s a symbol of the religion, it’s mandatory, for example in Islam keeping a beard is mandatory, in our religion keeping mustache is mandatory.

The followers of Yarsanism are estimated by around one million people. The most of them are living in the west of Iran, in the Kermanshah province where also their place of pilgrimage (Shikhan) is located and the grave of Sultan Sahak. Around 120 000 to 200 000 are living in Iraq, spread throughout the whole country; in Mosul, Erbil, Khanaqin, Kalar, Kirkuk and Halabja.

They have a holy book like the Bible or the Quran, its name is Sanjaman and it's written in Manchu, the language of Hawraman, which not all of the Kaka'is understand. Their holy book consists of poems that tell that the universe has created stars, sky, sun, moon and humanity. Their four pillars of belief are: truth, purity, altruism and wisdom. They fast, pray and celebrate as other religions. 

Kaka'is is a private religion that means that no one can become Kaka'i if they're not born Kaka'i, but a Kaka'i is allowed to convert to any other religion and can also marry with a Muslim or a Christian. 

Due to the regime of Saddam Hussein that tried to wipe out minorities and Daesh who considered them as infidels towards Islam and forced them to convert or killed them, the Kaka'is often pretend in public to be Muslim. Nowadays, the situation of the Kaka'is hasn't changed, because their religion is still not recognized by the Iraqi constitution like Christianity or Yezidism, so they're identity is not protected by law. No representative in the government or parliament, which does have representatives from amongst the Muslims, Christians, Kurds, Arabs, Sunnis, Shia, Yazidi, Sabean-Mandeans and Shabaks.

According to Theologian of Islam Professor Dr Sabbah that's also the reason why the Kaka'is keep their religion private. Because of the absence of law in their country this minority is living in. They try to find refuge in their community and traditions. In order to keep this community alive, they need to hold on to their distinct signs like the moustaches or their dialect. 



Reported by Julia Zimmermann
PUKmedia