The Meskhetian Turks are a Turkish people originally from a part of southern Georgia that borders Turkey. They are named after a Georgian province called Meskheti. Though nomadic Turkic tribes had long since settled in Meskheti, it was the Turkish military expedition of 1578 that led to these people being thought of as a separate people group.
Under Josef Stalin's policies during the time of the Soviet Union, the Meskhetian Turks were forcefully deported to Central Asia, where they experienced discrimination and civil rights abuses. When they were finally permitted to return to their homeland, Georgia did not allow them to resettle there, so many are still scattered.
Today these people live in several countries, including Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, with the largest population in Russia. A few live in Ohio, a state in the US.
Meskhetian Turks in Kyrgyzstan are often farmers, herders; those who live in cities tend to be shop owners. There have been pogroms in Kyrgyzstan against the Meskhetian Turks; the most recent one being in 2010. When Kyrgyz nationalism is stirred up and jealousies arise, sometimes there is violence against the Meskhetian Turks, who tend to be relatively prosperous because of their strong work ethic. They stay in Kyrgyzstan to remain with their close-knit communities. They have high respect for the elderly.
Lack of prayer and lack of obedience to the command of Christ to preach the good news to all creation continue to slow the advance of the gospel among Muslim Meskhetian Turks in Kazakhstan and elsewhere.
They are Muslim, but many of their traditions contain a mixture of Muslim, Caucasian, and Russian elements.
If ever a people have needed the powerful love of Jesus to encourage, comfort, and bless, it would be the Meskhetian nation.
Pray that representatives of Jesus' love and grace would recognize the 'people of peace' (Luke 10:6) among the Meskhetian Turks and build many relationships into culture through them.
Pray for breakthroughs for Jesus in whole family circles and clans.
Pray for a huge disciple making movement to break out among the Meskhetian Turks wherever they live.
Scripture Prayers for the Turk, Meskhetian in Kyrgyzstan.
http://www.eurasianet.org/node/65802
http://www.globalprayerdigest.org/index.php/issue/day/ahishka-turks-in-dayton-oh/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meskhetian_Turks
https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/20631/TU
http://minorityrights.org/minorities/meskhetian-turks/
Profile Source: Keith Carey |
Other PDF Profile |
People Name General | Turk, Meskhetian |
People Name in Country | Turk, Meskhetian |
Natural Name | Meskhetian Turk |
Pronunciation |
mes-KEH-tee-un turk
|
Alternate Names | Ahiska Turks |
Population this Country | 24,000 |
Population all Countries | 307,000 |
Total Countries | 9 |
Indigenous | No |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
GSEC | 1 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 1 |
People ID | 20631 |
ROP3 Code | 115687 |
ROP25 Code | 308375 |
ROP25 Name | Turk |
Country | Kyrgyzstan | ||
Region | Asia, Central | ||
Continent | Asia | ||
10/40 Window | Yes | ||
Persecution Rank | Not ranked |
Country | Kyrgyzstan |
Region | Asia, Central |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
Persecution Rank | Not ranked |
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Primary Religion: | Islam |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 0.00 %) |
0.00 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
0.00 %
|
Islam |
100.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
Primary Language | Kyrgyz | |||
Language Code | kir Ethnologue Listing | |||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | |||
Total Languages | 2 | |||
Secondary Languages |
|
Primary Language | Kyrgyz |
Language Code | kir Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 2 |
Secondary Languages | |
Russian | |
People Groups | Speaking Kyrgyz |
Primary Language: Kyrgyz
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1982-2016) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1991-2005) |
Bible-Complete | Yes (1995-2011) |
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) | Online |
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) | Online |
Possible Print Bibles | |
---|---|
Amazon | |
World Bibles | |
Forum Bible Agencies | |
National Bible Societies | |
World Bible Finder | |
Virtual Storehouse |
Photo Source | Cem Ahiska - Wikimedia Creative Commons |
Profile Source | Keith Carey |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |