^{This page is part of © FOTW Flags Of The World website}

Qashqay (Iran)

image located by Chrystian Kretowicz, 4 August 2008

Source: http://www.geocities.com/rooyintan/

There is some uncertainty about the validity of the flags on this page.

Description of the flag

See also:

Description of the flag

The second largest (after the Azeris) Turkic nation in Iran. They number about 1,500,000 and live in Fars, Khuzestan and southern Isfahan provinces. They are still nomadic to a large extent, despite of efforts of the consecutive Persian and Iranian governments to force them to settle down. They have a reputation of being an excellent horsemen, warriors and marksmen.

The Qashqais are divided into five major tribes: Amalah, Darrah Shuri, Kashkuli, Shish Baluki and Farsimadan, and also into three minor tribes: Qaracha, Rahimi and Safi Khani. Their language, which they call 'Turki', has no written form and to express themselves in writing they use Farsi and Azeri (written in Persian characters). Almost all Qashqais are Shia Muslim (6 % are Christian), but their religious attitude is very lax, although they follow the rituals of marriage and death quite rigorously. Their leaders use the religion mostly for political gains and align themselves with the Shia clergy in Shiraz, Tehran and Najaf (Iraq).

They have many flags, but it is very little known about them. The flag features the design of the traditional pattern of carpets woven in the area and Southern Azerbaijani-style of the crescent and eight pointed star. Although this flag is flown by the Qashqais, it is a flag of all Turkic South Iran.

Chrystian Kretowicz, 4 August 2008

image located by Chrystian Kretowicz, 4 August 2008

Source: http://www.geocities.com/rooyintan/

The specific Qashqai flag features the tamga of Aq-Qoyunlu (White Sheep Turkoman) of which the Qashqai tribes are descended.

Chrystian Kretowicz, 4 August 2008

image located by Chrystian Kretowicz, 4 August 2008

Source: http://www.geocities.com/rooyintan/

The older flag of Qashqai.

Chrystian Kretowicz, 4 August 2008