The name Qizilbash, which is Turkish for Red Heads, is given to a wide variety of Shia (Shiite) militant groups who helped found the Safavid Dynasty of Iran (1501-1722). Their name is derived from their distinct headwear, with twelve points indicating their adherence to the Twelver branch of Shiite Islam (the main Shia group). The Qizilbash in Afghanistan are descendants of troops left behind by Nadir Shah during his Indian campaign in 1738. They held important posts in government offices in the past, and today they engage in trade or are craftsmen. As Persian-speaking Shia Muslims, they constitute an important and politically influential element of society in the nation of Afghanistan. Exact population figures are hard to come by because they have taken a dual religious identity (called taqiyya) due to persecution from Sunni Muslims. There are no known believers among the Qizilbash.

When you pray:

* Pray for open doors into the lives of the Qizilbash in order that believers might find opportunities to share Jesus with them.

* Pray for workers from among the Afghani believers to minister to the Qizilbash.

* There are very few Gospel resources in their language. Pray for linguists to answer the call to come to Afghanistan translate the Scriptures, literature and audio recordings into dialects of Dari.