Latest news with #Kakai
Shafaq News
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
More than mustache: What Kakais and Druze won't shave off
Shafaq News Though separated by borders and ethnic backgrounds, Iraq's Kakai community and Syria's Druze minority mirror each other in remarkable ways — not just in their shared preference for secrecy and sacred traditions, but in how they embody cultural resilience through symbolic expression and ritual fidelity. From the unshaven mustache that conveys sacred vows, to the refusal to accept converts or publicize doctrine, both groups have developed spiritual systems designed to survive under suspicion, silence, and siege. Guarding Faith Through Silence For the Kakais — also known as Ahl-e Haqq or People of the Truth — secrecy is both a theological principle and a means of protection. As Kakai elder Ako Shaweis told the Kurdish Foundation of Paris, 'Our rituals have always been kept secret… These rituals are intended for God, not for humans.' For communities long subjected to marginalization, discretion is not about retreating from society but preserving the sanctity of belief. 'The more hidden and concealed the religious ceremonies are, the more acceptable they become,' he noted, emphasizing a spiritual tradition where privacy deepens one's connection to the divine. For the Druze, the practice is institutionalized. Only a select religious elite, the Uqqal (Knowers), are allowed to access the group's sacred texts (Al-Hikmah Al-sharifah) or participate in religious services. Conversion into or out of the faith is strictly prohibited. Like the Kakais, Druze communities preserve a tight boundary between insiders and outsiders. Both groups maintain reverence for sacred sites. Kakais in Iraq and Iran visit the shrine of Sultan Ishaq, while the Druze make pilgrimages to sites like the maqam of Prophet Habil near Damascus or Nabi Shuayb in Palestine. These visits are often deeply personal, but they also reflect collective ties to landscape and memory — further linking identity to sacred geography. Parallel Paths of Devotion Among the most visible expressions of faith for both groups is the mustache — not as fashion, but as a sacred symbol. In Kakai belief, it is a covenant. 'The thick, long mustache isn't just a social custom,' explains Kakai scholar Khurshid Al-Kakai to Shafaq News. 'It's part of the spiritual commitment and religious oath that ties the individual to his community and faith. This symbolic role finds a striking echo among Syria's Druze, where the mustache also historically signified discipline, wisdom, and spiritual maturity. Although less rigidly observed today, it remains a potent cultural marker — particularly for religious elders and community leaders. This shared symbolism was thrust into the spotlight during recent unrest in Suwayda, where reports emerged of Druze men being forcibly shaved under threat. Abbas Al-Kakai, a prominent figure in Iraq's Kakai community, condemned the incidents. 'To violate the mustache is to insult an entire identity,' he told Shafaq News. 'It symbolizes dignity, faith, and a sacred vow. These acts are unacceptable — they are not just violence, but symbolic erasure.' A Mutual Struggle for Recognition What makes the Kakai-Druze parallel compelling is not only their rituals or symbols but the logic beneath them: survival without assimilation. Whether in the Qalate hills of Halabja or the mountain shrines of Jabal Al-Druze, both groups navigate their identities through a careful balance of concealment and assertion. Neither community seeks to proselytize. Instead, they ask for space — for recognition of their traditions, and constitutional acknowledgment of their distinct identities. In a region plagued by fragmentation, the Kakais and Druze remind us of another path — one that guards the soul of a people not through force, but through fidelity. Their shared story is not only one of survival, but of quiet defiance in the face of being forgotten.
Rudaw Net
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
People from all faiths pay respect to late Pope Francis in north Iraq
Also in Iraq Iraq-US relations 'fundamental pillar' for stability, development: FM Mosul fire brought under control: Lawmaker Middle school student tragically killed in tribal revenge attack in southern Iraq Iraqi electoral body says 70 parties seek to run in federal elections A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - People from all walks of life gathered in the district of Hamdaniya in Iraq's northern Nineveh province to honor the memory of the late Pope Francis. 'We as Kurds have visited the Metropolitan of Qaraqosh in Hamdaniya, to offer our condolences for the loss of Pope Francis and to mourn with our Christian brothers,' Akram Mustafa, a Kurdish resident of Hamdaniya told Rudaw. Pope Francis passed away from a stroke at his residence on Easter Monday, April 21, after weeks of illness. The 88-year-old had recently been discharged from the hospital, where he was receiving treatment for pneumonia. His last public appearance was on Easter Sunday, just a day before his passing, when he greeted thousands of worshippers in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican. A symbolic funeral ceremony in Hamdaniya was organized by the Mosul Archdiocese in the town of Qaraqosh. The event drew participation from diverse communities. A Christian resident of Hamdaniya told Rudaw, 'We stand together as we mourn the passing of Pope Francis who stood as an emblem of peace, unity and brotherhood throughout the world. This is the least we can do.' Christians, Muslims, Kakai, Yazidi and members of other religious and ethnic groups all took part in organizing the ceremony to honor the Pope's legacy. 'Traditionally, funerals are not held for Christian religious figures because we believe in resurrection, but we wanted to hold this ceremony in Hamdaniya following the request of our Muslim, Yazidi, and Kakai brothers, who asked us to,' Rony Salem, Deputy of the Mosul Syriac Catholic Archdiocese said. Archbishop Bashar Warda of the Chaldean Archdiocese of Erbil told Rudaw on Sunday, that 'a nine-day mourning period' is underway to mark the pontiff's passing. During this time, the College of Cardinals is expected to convene regularly to deliberate on the Church's current status and its future direction. Commenting on the upcoming papal election, Archbishop Warda noted, 'Historically, the elected pope is rarely among the widely expected names.' He anticipated that a new pontiff will be chosen within two weeks.
Shafaq News
18-04-2025
- General
- Shafaq News
Resilience served: Iraq's Kakai celebrate Masti Qalati
Shafaq News/ Iraq's Kakai community in Halabja province marked Masti Qalati, a centuries-old tradition that has evolved into a powerful annual ritual celebrating generosity, unity, and cultural resilience. Held each spring, the occasion blends spiritual rituals with communal generosity. Preparations begin in late April, with families preparing milk-based goods for distribution. The celebration includes traditional Kakai religious music, notably performed on the tanbour—a spiritual instrument central to Kakai rituals. Community members described to Shafaq News that the day as a 'reaffirmation of their values,' adding that tradition reinforces messages of peace, coexistence, and compassion beyond the Kakai community itself. Women also play a key role in the event, preparing food and overseeing its distribution. The female contribution is essential, not supplementary, and passing down the values of generosity to children is a core aspect of the tradition, social activist Shukriya Hawari noted to Shafaq News. Despite economic hardships in the region, citizens expressed their commitment to the ritual remains unwavering, viewing the act of giving amid adversity as a powerful expression of resilience. For many, Masti Qalati has become a symbol of cultural endurance and a renewed call to embrace compassion and solidarity in the face of ongoing challenges. The Kakai faith, which belongs to the broader Yazdani religious tradition, has historical ties to the Yazidi and Yarsani communities. According to the Minority Rights Group, Iraq is home to an estimated 110,000 to 200,000 Kakais, with most living in areas southeast of Kirkuk, the Nineveh Plains, and provinces such as Diyala, Erbil, and al-Sulaymaniyah.
