Barwari
Encyclopedia
Barwar also known as Barwari and Barwari Bala, is a region situated in northern Dohuk Governorate in Iraq
. The region is populated by Kurds although it was once mainly inhabited by Assyrians with a large Jewish
minority.
Its Christian inhabitants were little affected by the Ottoman conquests, however starting from the 19th century Kurdish
Emir
s sought to expand their territories at their expense. In the 1830s Muhammad Rawanduzi, the Emir of Soran
, tried to forcibly add the region to his dominion pillaging many Assyrian villages. Bedr Khan Beg of Bohtan renewed attacks on the region in the 1840s, killing tens of thousands of Assyrians in Barwari and Hakkari
before being ultimately defeated by the Ottomans.
Many Assyrians who survived were subject to massacres
by the Ottomans and their Kurdish allies during the First World War, while others took refuge in Urmia
led by their patriarch Mar Shimun XXI Benyamin. Later attempts for their resettlement in Barwar were largely unsuccessful.
All of the Barwari Jews left for Israel
shortly after its independence. The region was heavily affected by the Kurdish uprisings during the 1950s and 60s and was largely depopulated during the Anfal campaign in the 1980s.
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
. The region is populated by Kurds although it was once mainly inhabited by Assyrians with a large Jewish
Kurdish Jews
Kurdish Jews or Kurdistani Jews are the ancient Eastern Jewish communities, inhabiting the region known as Kurdistan in northern Mesopotamia, roughly covering parts of Iran, northern Iraq, Syria and eastern Turkey. Their clothing and culture is similar to neighbouring Kurdish Muslims and Christian...
minority.
History
The mountainous region was part of the diocese of Beth Nuhadra (current day Dohuk) since antiquities and have seen a mass migration of Nestorians after the fall of Baghdad in 1258 and Timurlane's invasion from central Iraq.Its Christian inhabitants were little affected by the Ottoman conquests, however starting from the 19th century Kurdish
Kurdish people
The Kurdish people, or Kurds , are an Iranian people native to the Middle East, mostly inhabiting a region known as Kurdistan, which includes adjacent parts of Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey...
Emir
Emir
Emir , meaning "commander", "general", or "prince"; also transliterated as Amir, Aamir or Ameer) is a title of high office, used throughout the Muslim world...
s sought to expand their territories at their expense. In the 1830s Muhammad Rawanduzi, the Emir of Soran
Soran Emirate
Soran was a Kurdish emirate that was established in 1816. It ruled over the northeastern part of Kurdistan until it was removed by Ottoman troops in 1835. Its capital for most of that time was the city of Rawanduz....
, tried to forcibly add the region to his dominion pillaging many Assyrian villages. Bedr Khan Beg of Bohtan renewed attacks on the region in the 1840s, killing tens of thousands of Assyrians in Barwari and Hakkari
Hakkari
Hakkâri , is a city and the capital of the Hakkâri Province of Turkey. The name Hakkâri is derived from the Syriac word, Akkare, meaning farmers...
before being ultimately defeated by the Ottomans.
Many Assyrians who survived were subject to massacres
Assyrian genocide
The Assyrian Genocide refers to the mass slaughter of the Assyrian/Chaldean/Syriac population of the Ottoman Empire during the 1890s, the First World War, and the period of 1922-1925...
by the Ottomans and their Kurdish allies during the First World War, while others took refuge in Urmia
Urmia
- Demographics :According to official census of 2006, the population of Urmia is about 871,204.- Language :The population of Urmia is mainly Azerbaijani people, with Kurdish, Assyrian Christian, and Armenian minorities...
led by their patriarch Mar Shimun XXI Benyamin. Later attempts for their resettlement in Barwar were largely unsuccessful.
All of the Barwari Jews left for Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
shortly after its independence. The region was heavily affected by the Kurdish uprisings during the 1950s and 60s and was largely depopulated during the Anfal campaign in the 1980s.