Do you consider Afghans and Tajiks as Persian or not?

[ali alipour]

Persian isn't a consideration, it's a lifestyle.

[RaginG Inferno]

I think the thread originator does not know what he means when he asks what 'Persian' means. This is clear from the poll options, which are all misleading options.

Persians are an Iranian ethnic group from the Fars (Pars) region in Iran. The language of this ethnic group, Persian, is spoken by many Iranian non-Persian ethnic groups as the lingua franca. They also are the largest ethnic group in Iran. We also have other ethnic groups in Iran, such as Kurds, Balochis, etc.

Afghanistan is largely a Pashtun nation (although large numbers of Pashtuns are also found in Pakistan). Pashtuns are not Persians, obviously. Much of Afghanistan speaks Persian (just like much of India and Turkey spoke Persian until recently), including the Hazara and the Pashtuns - but they are not Persians (although there are small populations of migrant Persians in Afghanistan).

All of Tajikistan speaks Persian. However, they also have large pockets of ethnic Persians, such as the Pamiri Tajiks.

We wish our regional neighbours, the Afghans and Tajiks, the best. We also appreciate their support (in the videos provided). However, if they wish to discuss Tajik or Afghan football, they can start their own website and forum easily.

[RaginG Inferno]

Really no one is no longer Persian as Persia no longer exists. We are Iranian.

You can go ahead and define yourself as Persian but so can Afghans, Pakistanis, etc.

With respect, your comments are plainly wrong. It's strange that an Iranian is unaware of the largest ethnic group in Iran.

We always have been Iranian. The 'Persian Empire' was a foreigners' term (which started with the Greeks, who alternatively called us 'Medes' - i.e. the Kurdish empire that preceded Cyrus' Persian empire, which unified the Kurdish and Persian Iranians). Iran was always called by Iranians by 'Iran' or 'Iran-zamin'. Reza Pahlavi changed the international name of Persia to Iran partially for that reason.

[PersianLegion]

I think the thread originator does not know what he means when he asks what 'Persian' means. This is clear from the poll options, which are all misleading options.

Persians are an Iranian ethnic group from the Fars (Pars) region in Iran. The language of this ethnic group, Persian, is spoken by many Iranian non-Persian ethnic groups as the lingua franca. They also are the largest ethnic group in Iran. We also have other ethnic groups in Iran, such as Kurds, Balochis, etc.

Afghanistan is largely a Pashtun nation (although large numbers of Pashtuns are also found in Pakistan). Pashtuns are not Persians, obviously. Much of Afghanistan speaks Persian (just like much of India and Turkey spoke Persian until recently), including the Hazara and the Pashtuns - but they are not Persians (although there are small populations of migrant Persians in Afghanistan).

All of Tajikistan speaks Persian. However, they also have large pockets of ethnic Persians, such as the Pamiri Tajiks.

We wish our regional neighbours, the Afghans and Tajiks, the best. We also appreciate their support (in the videos provided). However, if they wish to discuss Tajik or Afghan football, they can start their own website and forum easily.

I am fully aware of Persian ethnicity.

If you follow up my post on this thread you can understand I gave further explanation on who do I consider Persian and on what extend.

The meaning of Persian can be extended or shrink just like any other definition.

A pre-qualification to be a Persian is to come from Iranic background at least.

Then the most encapsulated characteristics for a Persian is

1. If his/her parent are originally from Persian dominated area such as Fars, Esfahan, Tehran, Yazd, Kerman or Mashhad Areas or has ethnic Persian ancestors.

2. Speak Persian as first language/mother tongue
3. Has Persian culture and heritage
4. The person embrace Persian identity

The broader view can be those that are not necessary from Persian background but from Iranic people who adopted Persian language and culture and assimilated for generations. Most of the people who consider themselves Persian can not trace back their ancestor more than 4 generations so there might be many people who were not originally Persians but became later over the centuries. Just like what happen to Azerbaijanis since 13 centuries.

I think Tajiks and Farsiwans of Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan are between these two categories. As you guys know many Persians settled in Central Asia during Parthian and Sassanid dynasties and later more Persians immigrated to Khurasan and Central Asia to escape Arab invasion and atrocities of early Muslims. If you guys read the writing of great historian Prof. Frye about this period of Persian immigration and Tajik identity you will know many Tajiks are truly Persian and some others are mix Persian/Sogdian people. In Samanid dynasty they were the first dynasty after Arab take over of Iran who promoted Persian as court and official language over Arabic. Arabic was imposed on Iranian by Arab Caliphate for 2 and half centuries. Read the book called "two centuries of silence by Dr. Zarinkoob about this period" (Ketabe do gharn sokot).

I consider some Tajiks just like regular Persian with first definition and the other from second definition.

I know Pashtuns are not Persians.

I left this to be discussed by our members that is why I am not trying to impose my own idea on others that who is or is not Persian. The poll is for those who decided themselves by either reading the posts here or using their own judgement. Whoever wants to give more explanation or info is welcome to do so with posting here.

[littlepersia17]

I don't really know what I am, so I want other people to decide.

My mother's side: Kurdish-feyli

My father's side: Kurdish-feyli

My dad: born in khanaqin, Iraq , but lived in qazvin since 2 years old.

My Mum: born in Baghdad, Iraq, but lived in Tehran since 5 years old.

Me: born in Tehran


The question is what the f*ck am I?


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[Karimi 8]

I don't really know what I am, so I want other people to decide.

My mother's side: Kurdish-feyli

My father's side: Kurdish-feyli

My dad: born in khanaqin, Iraq , but lived in qazvin since 2 years old.

My Mum: born in Baghdad, Iraq, but lived in Tehran since 5 years old.

Me: born in Tehran


The question is what the f*ck am I?


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I would say you are 100% Iranian, and with a Kurdish ethnic background. That is a cool family background but you're full Iranian the way i see it But most importantly, what do you consider yourself to be? Also out of curiosity, what languages do you speak?

[Ali.Karimi79]

The fuck?! Lol I was pretty sure I clicked approve but anyhow.
Sorry, I think it was an accident. My computer got screwed up at the time and I meant to click 'approve', not neg rep you. We all get trigger happy at times, so again, apologies.
If there is any way to undo it, it would be much appreciated if someone could kindly advise this novice. TY
PS On an unrelated sidenote, is approving a post the same as thanking? Thanks

NP mate, i don't care for virtual rep but i thougt i said something you disagree with, which is fine and legit. I am all for having a mature discussion instead of ridiculing or neg repping.

[ferdyf]

thats it they are NOT PERSIANS -.- what a stupid question

[littlepersia17]

I would say you are 100% Iranian, and with a Kurdish ethnic background. That is a cool family background but you're full Iranian the way i see it But most importantly, what do you consider yourself to be? Also out of curiosity, what languages do you speak?

I speak only Farsi and English.

Unfortunately, both my parents have forgotten how to speak Kurdish since they only spoke to their parents in that language when they were kids.

I consider my self an Australian!!! Nah jokes, judging from my body hair i am one hairy Iranian [emoji6]


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[shahname]

This question is fundamentally at fault. Tajiks and Afghans are part of the great "Iranian" people whom Persians are also a part of along Kurds, Baluchis, Pashtuns etc...

[Mir Javad]

I speak only Farsi and English.

Unfortunately, both my parents have forgotten how to speak Kurdish since they only spoke to their parents in that language when they were kids.

I consider my self an Australian!!! Nah jokes, judging from my body hair i am one hairy Iranian [emoji6]

I am just asking out of interest, what made you parents move to Iran? As you have mentioned your parents are Feyli Kurds, I assuming your family once got expelled by Saddam Hussain ? I know Feylis were heavily prosecuted and ethnic cleansed in Iraq, and they got falsely labelled as Iranians because they coincidently happen to be both Shia and non-Arab .

I would consider you Iranian in every way possible since you were born in Iran and bought up speaking the language. I remember we had some other member called Kurdi who happened to be an Iranian Kurd but supported and preferred to be more Iraqi than Iranian without any connection to Iraq other than being a Kurd. Its good you prefer to be Iranian and proud of it, but doesn't mean you shouldn't be proud of your families Iraqi past.

I from Australia as well and was born here but I simply consider myself being an Iranian Australian. Maybe when I have children, they will call themselves simply Australian not Iranian anymore.

[persepolisfan]

I don't really know what I am, so I want other people to decide.

My mother's side: Kurdish-feyli

My father's side: Kurdish-feyli

My dad: born in khanaqin, Iraq , but lived in qazvin since 2 years old.

My Mum: born in Baghdad, Iraq, but lived in Tehran since 5 years old.

Me: born in Tehran


The question is what the f*ck am I?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You're an Iranian Kurd. Be proud bro

[Abtin]

Holy damn their farsi/persian is good, if you didnt know they were afghans, you would seriously think they were iranians in iran

[Ali Doust]

Iranian means being from Iran and Iran stands for land of Aryans. Iran is a beautiful name it is actually the name of my beloved grandmother and a lot of nations can consider themselves to be Iranian. Specially any nation that ends with the word (Stan)

[PersianLegion]

Holy damn their farsi/persian is good, if you didnt know they were afghans, you would seriously think they were iranians in iran

They are from Harat which is literally part of Khorasan. Their accent and ethnicity is Khorasani Persian.