Facts
Kurdish Christians: facts and background.
Who are they, how many are there and what does Rozia Foundation do? Short answers, with a source for every fact.
Kurdish Christians are Kurds who believe in Jesus Christ. They form a small community within a people whose vast majority is Muslim.
The Kurds are one of the largest peoples in the world without a state of their own. Most live in Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Syria. You can read more about the people, the language and the history on Who are the Kurds?
Key facts
The facts at a glance.
- Number of Kurdish Christians
- An estimated 12,000 to 23,000 people. We are not aware of any official count.
- Source: Rozia Foundation (estimate, October 2026)
- The gospel in Kurdish
- Hiwa Bo Kurd offers the Bible, songs, daily devotions and courses in Kurdish, online and in the Hiwa app.
- Source: Rozia Foundation (own data, October 2026), hiwabokurd.com
- Sorani Bible in the Netherlands
- The Netherlands Bible Society sells a New Testament in Sorani Kurdish.
- Source: Netherlands Bible Society, product page Kurdish Bible Sorani, New Testament
- Input to the Dutch parliament
- Rozia Foundation submitted a position paper for the round-table discussion on north-eastern Syria held by the Dutch House of Representatives on 11 March 2026.
- Source: Position paper Rozia Foundation (PDF, via 1848.nl)
- Two motions on Christians
- On 7 April 2026 the Dutch House of Representatives adopted two motions: one on protecting people who change their faith (150 in favour, 0 against) and one on freedom of religion in Syria's new constitution (131 in favour, 19 against). The decision was the House's own.
- Source: House of Representatives, votes of 7 April 2026; report: Rozia Foundation, 18 June 2026
- About Rozia Foundation
- A Christian foundation in the Netherlands with ANBI status (Dutch public benefit organisation), founded on 18 January 2024. Not a church or denomination.
- Source: Rozia Foundation, ANBI details; Chamber of Commerce (KvK) 92679692
Questions and answers
Short answers.
What are Kurdish Christians?
Kurdish Christians are Kurds who believe in Jesus Christ. They belong to the Kurdish people and form a small community within it. The vast majority of Kurds are Muslim.
How many Kurdish Christians are there?
According to Rozia Foundation's own estimate, there are 12,000 to 23,000 people (October 2026). We are not aware of any official count, so every number remains an estimate.
In which countries do Kurdish Christians live?
Most Kurds live in Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Syria, and others live elsewhere, including in Europe. For safety reasons we do not name Kurdish Christians or their communities in Iran, Iraq, Syria and Turkey, nor the places where they live.
In which language do Kurdish Christians read the Bible?
The Bible is available in Kurdish. The Netherlands Bible Society, for example, sells a New Testament in Sorani Kurdish. Through Hiwa Bo Kurd we share the Bible, songs, daily devotions and courses in Kurdish.
What is the situation of Kurdish Christians?
It differs from country to country and from person to person. Organisations such as Open Doors and the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) publish annual reports on religious freedom by country. We refer to their current reports and do not quote figures without a source.
Where do Kurdish Christians meet?
There are Kurdish-speaking churches and groups. For safety reasons we do not name congregations in Iran, Iraq, Syria and Turkey, nor where they meet. Rozia Foundation itself is not a church and does not hold church services.
Is Rozia Foundation a Kurdish Christian organization?
Rozia Foundation is a Christian foundation in the Netherlands that stands alongside the Kurdish people, and Kurdish Christians in particular. We are not a church or denomination. We have ANBI status and are registered with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce under number 92679692.
What does Rozia Foundation do?
Our work has three pillars. Mission: we share the gospel in Kurdish through Hiwa Bo Kurd. Relief: we stand alongside people in need, regardless of background; in early 2026, together with a local partner, we reached 3,777 families in north-eastern Syria, a project that has now ended. Advocacy: we stand up for the religious freedom of Kurdish Christians.
Source and citation
How to cite this page.
Rozia Foundation (2026). Kurdish Christians: facts and background. Updated 31 October 2026. https://roziafoundation.com/en/kurdish-christians/
Using a fact from this page? Please name Rozia Foundation as the source and link to this page. For facts from others, we refer to the original source.
Spotted a mistake, or have an addition with a source? Email us at info@roziafoundation.com.
Sources
- Netherlands Bible Society: Kurdish Bible Sorani, New Testament (accessed 31 October 2026)
- Rozia Foundation position paper, round-table discussion on north-eastern Syria, 11 March 2026 (via 1848.nl)
- Open Doors and USCIRF: annual reports on religious freedom
- Hiwa Bo Kurd: the gospel in Kurdish
Get involved
Help build hope.
Your gift does two things. It brings the gospel in Kurdish and it supports Kurdish Christians. Rozia Foundation is a recognised ANBI (a Dutch public benefit organisation), so your gift is tax-deductible in the Netherlands.