پژوهشگاه فرهنگ، هنر و ارتباطات فصلنامه علمی مطالعات راهبردی فرهنگ 2783-3577 6 2 2026 05 22 The role and function of Iraqi Shiite Kurds in the Arbaeen pilgrimage نقش و کارکرد کردهای شیعی عراق در آیین پیاده‌روی اربعین 165 186 235869 10.22083/scsj.2025.385199.1291 FA علی مولایی دکتری علوم سیاسی دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی واحد همدان، همدان، ایران. molaieali57@gmail.com Journal Article 2025 06 01 Introduction: The Shiite Kurds of Iraq, a minority of Iranian origin concentrated in the eastern provinces of Diyala, Wasit, Baghdad, and Khanaqin, have long experienced systematic marginalization under successive Iraqi regimes, particularly during the Ba’athist era. Their composite identity—Kurdish by ethnicity, Shiite by faith, and of Iranian descent—made them persistent targets of state suspicion, resulting in denaturalization, forced displacement, and political exclusion. Following the fall of Saddam Hussein, many Shiite Kurds returned to Iraq and embarked on a process of cultural and religious revival. Among the most prominent manifestations of this revival is their active participation in the annual Arbaeen pilgrimage, which serves not only as a religious ritual but also as a performative expression of identity, transnational solidarity, and geopolitical symbolism that closely connects them with Iran.<br>Methods: Using a qualitative-historical approach and thematic analysis, this study draws on historical sources, archival materials, and semi-structured interviews with Arbaeen organizers and Shiite Kurdish participants. A purposive snowball sampling strategy facilitated access to dispersed networks of activists and pilgrims. Through thematic coding and comparative analysis, the study identifies three major themes: (1) shared identity and cultural ties with Iran, (2) motivations for participation in Arbaeen, and (3) the broader sociopolitical and cultural implications of such participation.<br>Findings: Shared Identity with Iran: Shiite Kurds maintain enduring religious, linguistic, and historical ties with Iran. These include adherence to Twelver Shiism, linguistic affinities between Kurdish dialects and Persian, historical coexistence with Iranian communities (particularly in Ilam Province), and past involvement in defending Iran’s western borders. Such affinities have historically linked Shiite Kurds to Iranian sociocultural frameworks, reinforcing a sense of kinship despite the mistrust directed toward them by successive Iraqi regimes.<br>Motivations for Participation: Participation in Arbaeen is driven by multiple intersecting factors, including religious devotion, collective memory, and identity reconstruction. Deep faith in the sanctity of Imam Hussain and the redemptive significance of pilgrimage constitutes the primary motivation. The tradition of nazr (votive offerings), the collective organization of hospitality services, and communal mourning rituals—often modeled on Iranian practices—strengthen social cohesion within the community. Participation also enables Shiite Kurds to reclaim their historically marginalized Shiite identity and express solidarity with the global Shiite community. Notably, their provision of hospitality extends beyond the official Arbaeen period, reflecting a cultural affinity with Iranian traditions of sustained service and generosity.<br>Sociopolitical and Cultural Implications: The participation of Shiite Kurds in Arbaeen generates multidimensional outcomes. It contributes to the transnational dissemination of Hussaini values, promoting narratives of justice, sacrifice, and moral resistance. Arbaeen functions as a space for Islamic unity and Shiite solidarity, transcending ethnic boundaries and reinforcing the transnational significance of Shiism. The visible use of the Persian language, Iranian symbols, and images of Iranian leaders among some Kurdish participants illustrates the expansion of Iran’s soft power and ideological influence. For many participants, the pilgrimage also represents a spiritual preparation for the advent of Imam Mahdi, highlighting the eschatological dimensions of Shiite religiosity. Through these practices, Shiite Kurds contribute to the preservation, revival, and dissemination of sha’aer, the central rituals and symbols of Shiite Islam.<br>Conclusion:‌The participation of Iraq’s Shiite Kurds in Arbaeen transcends mere devotional expression and represents a renewed assertion of identity, cultural resilience, and political agency. It provides a platform through which they reconnect with their spiritual heritage, restore communal pride, and reposition themselves within both Iraqi society and the broader Shiite ummah. Their rituals, linguistic practices, and forms of hospitality reveal enduring cultural connections with Iran, thereby reinforcing cross-border Shiite solidarity. More broadly, Arbaeen has evolved into a venue for religious diplomacy and geopolitical signaling, enabling marginalized groups such as the Shiite Kurds to exercise agency and gain visibility within regional power dynamics. Ultimately, for the Shiite Kurds, the pilgrimage functions simultaneously as a sacred act of worship and a strategic sociopolitical practice that fosters transethnic solidarity, preserves collective memory, and contributes to the ongoing transformation of the cultural and geopolitical landscape of Shiism in the contemporary Middle East. راهپیمایی اربعین حسینی طی سال‌های اخیر به یکی از بزرگ‌ترین آیین‌های مذهبی و اجتماعی در جهان اسلام تبدیل شده است. در این میان، حضور فعال کردهای شیعه عراق در این آیین، پدیده‌ای کمتر تحلیل‌شده اما دارای ابعاد فرهنگی، هویتی و ژئوپلیتیکی قابل‌توجه است. پژوهش حاضر باهدف واکاوی نقش و انگیزه‌های مشارکت کردهای شیعی عراق در آیین اربعین، تلاش دارد تا فراتر از رویکرد مناسکی صرف، به لایه‌های معنایی و کارکردی این مشارکت بپردازد. روش تحقیق، کیفی و مبتنی بر مصاحبه‌های نیمه‌ساخت‌یافته با مشارکت‌کنندگان کرد شیعی در مراسم اربعین، تحلیل اسناد تاریخی، و تطبیق‌یافته‌ها با ادبیات نظری است. نتایج نشان می‌دهد که مشارکت کردهای شیعی در آیین اربعین، صرفاً از سر التزام مذهبی نیست، بلکه بازتابی از کنش هویتی آنان برای بازسازی منزلت اجتماعی، احیای حافظه جمعی دوران تبعید و ترد در رژیم بعث، و بیان وفاداری به مرجعیت شیعی و همبستگی با جمهوری اسلامی ایران است. پیوندهای تاریخی و زبانی با ایران، هم‌پوشانی فرهنگی با جامعه شیعی ایرانی، و نقش فعال در خدمت‌رسانی به زائران، ازجمله زمینه‌هایی است که موقعیت نمادین کردهای شیعی را در این آیین تقویت کرده است. درنهایت، یافته‌ها نشان می‌دهد که آیین اربعین برای کردهای شیعه به بستری برای ابراز هویت، تعامل بین فرهنگی، و بازتعریف موقعیت در عراق پساصدام بدل شده است. این امر دارای پیامدهایی مهم برای دیپلماسی فرهنگی ایران و گفتمان ژئوپلیتیکی تشیع در منطقه است. https://scsj.ricac.ac.ir/article_235869_4ad34e4e6cf0f97fabeaf30042932452.pdf