'Ajam of Kuwait
العيم / فرس الكويت | |
|---|---|
Marafi family (Persian: معرفي) were among the first Ajam merchant families to settle in Kuwait. | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Kuwait | |
| Languages | |
| Kuwaiti Persian, Kuwaiti Arabic | |
| Religion | |
| Predominantly Shia Islam; Minority Sunni Islam | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Iranian diaspora (Iranians of UAE • Ajam of Bahrain • Ajam of Qatar • Ajam of Iraq • Iranians of Canada • Iranians of America • Iranians of UK • Iranians of Germany • Iranians of Israel • Iranians in Turkey) Iranian Peoples (Lurs, Achomis, Baluchs, Kurds, Iranian Azeris), Turkic peoples (Qashqai, Azerbaijanis), Huwala |
The 'Ajam of Kuwait (Arabic: عيم الكويت), also known as Persian Kuwaitis, are Kuwaiti citizens of Iranian descent. The majority of Shia Kuwaiti citizens are of Iranian descent, although there are Ajam Kuwaitis who are Sunni.
In the pre-oil era, the term "Ajam" (عجم) pertained to both Sunni and Shia families of Iranian descent in Kuwait. In the 20th century, the term "Ajam" became synonymous with Shia families; which can be partly attributed to the politicization of sectarian identities following the 1979 Iranian revolution.