The Iranians in Bahrain or Ajam (Arabic: عجم‎) are a community of Bahraini Persians in Bahrain. They have traditionally been merchants living in a specific quarters of Manama and Muharraq. The Persians mostly adhere to the Shia sect of Islam while a very small minority adheres to the Bahai faith. They are different from the Huwala, who are Arabs that immigrated to Persia and then returned to the Arabian Peninsula. Some are still Iranian Citizens and those add up to hundreds, and have actively taken part in the Iranian presidential election, 2009 at the Iranian Embassy in Bahrain. [1] The Ajam community originates from the Southern Iranian Provinces of Bushehr and Fars. They speak Southern Persian Dialects distinctive to the cities they have originated from, e.g.: Lari, tajiki kalani, lori kalani, etc. For example:

1) "Why" in official Persian dialect is "baráye che" (Persian: برای چه؟) while in southern Persian dialect is "seche" (Persian: سچه؟)

2) "Money" in official Persian dialect is "Púl" (Persian: پول) while in southern Persian dialect is "payse" (Persian: پایسه)

3) "Knife" in official Persian dialect is "cháqú" (Persian: چاقو) while in southern Persian dialect is "kárchang" (Persian: کارچنگ)

4) "Do you want water?" in official Persian dialect is "áb mikháhi" (Persian: آب میخواهی؟) while in southern Persian dialect is "ow akhay" (Persian: اُ آخایی؟)

The Shia Persians of Bahrain arrived in Bahrain in the last 60-100 years. They came as laborers, artisans and merchants. Persians maintain a distinct culture and language. Bahraini Persians do not tend to assimilate into the surrounding Arabic culture.

In addition to this, many names of ancient villages in Bahrain are in Persian. It is said that these names were influenced during the Safavid rule of Bahrain (1501-1722). i.e. Karbabad, Salmabad, Karzakan, Duraz, Barbar, etc., which indicates that the history of the Ajams is much older. The local Arabic dialects of Bahrain had also borrowed many words from the Persian language in the past, examples are danjal (woods used in constructing the roof of old buildings), badgeer (small towers that were part of old houses and used to cool the air), noghida (head of a pearl diving crew).

[edit] See also

• Huwala
• Baharna
• History of Bahrain
• Iranian Kuwaitis
• Ajam

[edit] References

• Persians and the space of city in Bahrain c.1869-1937, in Transnational Connections and the Persian Gulf (2005) ISBN 0415331358

[edit] External links

• Ajam Al Bahrain
• Ajam Al Bahrain Group
• Forum for Bahrain Ajam
• Ajam AlBahrain
• Matam Al Ajam Al Kabeer, officially recognised in 1881
• Matam Al Ajam Al Kabeer
• Iranians In Bahrain Take Part of 2009 Presidential Election of Iran [2]

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