Bedirxan Beg's massacres in Tur Abdin - In 1840-1844, the #Ezidis of Tur Abdin faced repeated invasions by Bedirxan Beg, the Prince of Bohtan & head of the Ezizan, an old and influential Kurdish noble family who according to Şerefxan Bedlîsî, were themselves originally Ezidis.
Despite this, he is infamous for his bloodthirst against the religious minorities in the region, including Ezidis and Nestorians. He participated in the 1836 massacre which killed over 10,000 Nestorians, enslaving and forcibly converting furthermore to Islam.
Between 1840-1844, he launched numerous invasions against Ezidis in Tur Abdin, throughout that period, thousands of Ezidis were killed, with their property looted and the women and children abducted or enslaved.
One of his largest attacks against Ezidis in Tur Abdin took place in 1844, when he used force to convert them to Islam. Those who rejected Islam were immediately executed. Seven villages adopted Islam out of fear.
According to Hormuzd Rassam's reports, during Kurban Bayram feast when Muslims slaughter animals to honor Abraham's willingness to sacrifice Isaac, Bedirxan would round up Ezidis for a grisly ceremony and personally slaughter those who refused to accept Islam.

📷: Hormuzd Rassam
Bedirxan had an Ezidi woman of Ezidi princely family as his wife, she had been abducted by his warriors & forcibly married to himself. They had children, the mother of Emin Ali Bedirkhan Beg and thus the grandmother of the brothers Celadet, Kamûran and Süreyya Bedirkhan.
In 1847, when the Ottoman Croatian general Osman Pasha, was sent with a force to eliminate Bedirxan, many Ezidi tribesmen took advantage of this opportunity to take revenge and stop decade long persecution.
Ezidis were a part of the forces who intercepted the marching Hakkari forces under the command of Han Mahmud, who were on their way to aid and reinforce Bedirxan Beg's forces.

📷: 1840 map of Hakkari and central Kurdistan.
Unfortunately, this is just one example of conflict and enmity that occurred between Kurds of different faiths. For example, Alevi Kurds and Sunnis also often fought on the opposing sides of the conflict. We hope religious co-existence continues to grow and none of this repeats.

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More from @EzidiHeritage

Apr 19, 2023
Happy Ezidi New Year!

[THREAD] Çarşemba Serê Nîsanê, Çarşemba Serê Salê or Çarşemba Sor - Is an Ezidi festival that marks the beginning of the calendar & is celebrated annually on the first Wednesday on or after 14th April, or in Ezidi calendar, 1st Nîsan. (1/19) ImageImageImageImage
This feast is a celebration of the renewal of the year and the earth during spring, when plains, mountains, fields & pasture are adorned with colourful plants & a new life in nature has started. This is also referenced to in a Qewl passage: (2/19)
1. Li Çarşembûyê xoş bû jîyan,
2. Kesk bûn deşt, û çiya, û zevî, û zozan,
3. Hemû bi kerema Pedşê minî Yezdan.

1. Life becomes pleasant on Wednesday,
2. Plaints, mountains, fields and pastures have become green,
3. All by the mystical power of my Lord Yezdan. (3/19)
Read 19 tweets

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