Southern Lurs (Southern Luri:لݸرَلِ جنۈبی) are a large part ofLurs[1][2] who natively speak the Southern Luri language a branch ofWestern Iranian languages,[3][4] and are anIranian people. They occupy some regions in Southwest ofIran includingKohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad (fully), Southeastern parts ofKhuzestan (Behbahan,Omidiye,Hendijan,Ramhormoz andBagh-e Malek counties) Northwestern parts ofFars (Mamasani,Rostam,Lamerd,Kazerun,Sepidan andEqlid counties), and Western parts ofBushehr province (Deylam,Ganaveh and some parts ofDashtestan county).[citation needed]
The exact number of Southern Lurs is unknown, due to the absence of recent and extensive census data. The most recent documented statistics concerning their language are available for the year 1999, where is estimated about 900,000 ethnic population.[5] Southern Lurs are predominantlyShia Muslim.[citation needed]
Southern Luri is the southernmost section ofLuri language. Luri is a WesternIranian language continuum spoken by the Lurs in Western Asia. Luri language forms three language groups known as Central Luri,Bakhtiari,[1][2] and Southern Luri.[1][2] The language is derived and descended fromPahlavi language and in comparison with otherIranian languages has been less affected by foreign invaders language e.g.Arabic andTurkic.[6][7]
The authority of tribal elders remains a strong influence among the nomadic population. It is not as dominant among the settled urban population. As is true in other Luri communities and Kurdish societies, southern Luri women have much greater freedom than women in other groups within the region.[8]
As a subdivision ofLuri clothing, a special clothing system distinguishes Southern Lurs form their adjacent societies. In recent years, due to cultural changes male clothing is very less in use but female clothing is commonplace.[9]
Southern traditional dance is an integral section of their culture and probably grew in close association with traditional music. SouthernLuri dances include bothcircle dance anddance double and likeKurdish dance it is mixed-gender that distinguishes them from other Muslim neighbors.[10] Dasmaal Baazi (handkerchief dance) acircle dance is the most popular dance and includes different performing styles like Ashtafi-manganaa. Chubazi (twig dance) is a specialdance double that is performed in Celebrations and joys and is inspired by the heroic battles.[11]
The most famous person of Southern Lurs isRais Ali Delvari, an independence fighter and anti-British colonialism activist who organized popular resistance against the British troops in this clashes, Rais Ali was killed .Then the Britishs used pro-British tribes to scatter the enemy into the hinterland. At the end, local tribal leaders murdered the British vice consul (a Persian) in Shiraz. and now is commemorated as a national hero in Iran. KayLohraas Baatuli is a well-known local hero.[12] who fought for years againstReza Shah Pahlavi troops in Boyer Ahmad and Mamasani.