The Talysh are a nomadic people who live along the Caspian Sea in Iran and Azerbaijan.  Most are Shia Muslims, however, there are some communities of Sunni Talyshis.  The Talysh are primarily farmers, growing rice, wheat, barley, tea, citrus and other produce.  Other Talyshis, especially those who have opted to abandon the nomadic lifestyle, have become craftsmen, specializing in tin, shoes and jewelry.  Talysh women are also internationally known for making some of the finest Persian rugs. 

Talyshis speak Talysh, an Indo-European language affiliated with Farsi. 

While many women traditionally wore Muslim clothing, some Talysh have now adopted a more Western style of dress.  This trend is more common in Azerbaijan than in the Iranian provinces. 

The Talysh are said to be descendents of the ancient Mada people, a group documented as early as the 1st millennium B.C.E.

The Talysh are very keen to maintain clan and tribal relationships, as well as strong social ties among family and village members.  In a class-stratified society, the khans were considered the feudal leaders and reserved the right to preside over certain conflicts within society.  The majority of civil and criminal matters, however, were decided by Sharia, or Islamic law.  While the peasant reforms of 1870 had a nominal impact on the Talysh social structure, the measures did set in motion a renewed desire for the continuance of religious rule and self-governance.[1] 

Demography

There are currently an estimated 912,000 Talysh speakers.[2]  In a 1926 census, there were 77,039 Talysh in Soviet Azerbaijan, a number which dropped dramatically to 21, 914 in 1989.  This sharp decline is thought to be a result of assimilation and changes to census methodology.[3]  Of the 912,000 Talyshis today, 800,000 reside in Azerbaijan.[4] 

Geographic distribution

Talyshis live in a diverse landscape, ranging from the forests of the Talysh Mountains to the subtropical areas around the Caspian Sea.  Those living in Azerbaijan are concentrated along the Caspian Sea in the provinces of Lenkoran, Astara, Lerik, Masalli and Yardimlii.  Baku and Sumgait are two large cities in Azerbaijan with significant Talysh communities.[5] 

Historic Hardship

Historically, the Talysh have had a class-stratified society with khans and beks.  As with feudalism, there has been exploitation by those in power, who have often demanded rigorous work in exchange for very little compensation.  In the 1920s, many Talyshis were incorporated into the Azerbaijan Soviet Republic where they were forced to classify their nationality as Azerbaijani.  Z. Akhmedzoda, a poet and highly regarded Talysh public figure, was one of the most outspoken critics of Soviet repression.  He died in 1942 after being sent to Siberia.[6]

Ongoing Hardship

The Talysh of Azerbaijan have joined several other ethnic minorities to speak out against various governmental policies that they find discriminatory.  Calls for autonomy and the legalization of a Talysh political party have topped Talysh concerns; they have advocated for active participation in political decisions.[7]  Talyshis also struggle with their identity in Azerbaijan, where they face a dilemma between the traditions of Central Asia, the Islamic traditions of the past, and the pull of more Westernized culture.[8]  The 2001 U.S. State Department’s Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for Azerbaijan pointed out that despite the existence of minorities, such as the Talysh, in Parliament, their political presence was not truly representative.  The report also noted that the Farsi-speaking Talysh are regularly discriminated against due to Talysh involvement in various separatist movements.[9] 

The Talysh are very concerned about the sustainability of their culture without educational programs.  In Azerbaijan, there are no media or educational programs in existence to ensure that their culture survives as the pressure to assimilate intensifies.[10]

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