Why Do You Feel the Need to Do This?

By Aydın Gabriel  An interview was conducted with Ender Peker, Pastor of the Protestant Church in Mardin and author of The History of Christian Kurds, about his work. I have not read the book yet, but if its content resembles what appeared in the interview, then the effort put into it has been wasted, as the interview contains a great deal of pure nonsense. Take, for example, this statement, which seems entirely reasonable: “If something is wrong in history, we must correct it.” Yet, whether intentionally or unintentionally, Peker, who made this statement, commits far greater errors. He goes even further than the racist and fascist regimes of the past by attempting to determine the origins of one people by denying the existence of another, claiming that those historically referred to as Assyrians, Nestorians, or Syriacs are in fact Kurds. Although he may not state this in those exact words, that is the clear implication of his argument. Forgive me, but you simply lack the necessary knowledge, which is why you are making things up. For example, the term “Kardo,” which you interpret in many sources as “Kurd,” is actually the Syriac name for Mount Judi. Similarly, “Kardoye” does not mean “Kurds.” Rather, it refers to the people living around Mount Kardo (Judi). Let me give you another example. I come from the Tur Abdin region, which is why I am called Turoyo. If I were from Nineveh, I would be called Ninvoyo, and if I were from Urhoy (Urfa), I would be called Urhoyo. But, as I said, you do not actually understand these facts, you are simply making things up. Read Also: Beth Nahrain Patriotic Union rejects claims broadcast by Rudaw linking Suraya identity to Kurdish origins Yes, those who lived around Mount Jilo are referred to in Eastern Syriac as “Jilvaye,” a term meaning “the people of Jilo.” Where did you get the idea that these people, who call themselves Jilvaye, are Kurds? Furthermore, your vague and confused statement that “the Jilo tribe is generally classified as Kurdish” is yet another fabrication on your part. And, by the way, that “educated ignoramus” you have taken as your guide is of no help to you. I wonder whether you have ever actually visited the areas inhabited by the Tyari, Jilo, Baz, and Diz tribes, which you have talked about at length. Do you even know what “Aşit” is, which you have falsely described as a “tribe”? Honestly, I doubt it. If you do know, then you are not merely ignorant but acting in bad faith, a trait unbecoming of a clergyman, or any decent human being. Let me clarify this for you: “Aşit” is not the name of a tribe. It derives from the Syriac word “Oşito” or “Aşita,” meaning “avalanche.” It is the largest settlement in the Tyari Valley (Qazan), where the Tyari tribe once lived. In 1924, the Turkish Republic displaced the Syriac inhabitants of this village, who belonged to the Church of the East, and Sunni Kurds later settled there in their place. Likewise, the term “Jacobites” does not refer to an independent denomination. It is a label coined by Western Christians to separate the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch, which rejected the Council of Chalcedon in 451 AD, from its true historical roots. It is true that many Syriacs bear the name “Yakup,” but no “Yakup” ever emerged who offered a different interpretation of Christianity or founded a new denomination. Therefore, referring to them as “Yakubi” is inaccurate. Nevertheless, you are right about one thing: there is considerable confusion in the region, and the issues require serious research to clarify the facts. What truly needs to be uncovered and explained is the actual identity of groups that today identify themselves as “Kurdish,” or use other labels, based solely on the language they speak or the faith they follow. For example, what is the true identity of the Tayy tribe, which is sometimes claimed to be “Arab” and at other times “Kurdish”? Or, if you prefer, who founded cities such as Erbil, Hakkari, Mardin, Diyarbakır, and Urfa, which are now often described as “Kurdish provinces”? Who lived in them, and who was responsible for the destruction of the peoples who inhabited these places in the past? Look, I do not believe I have the right to tell anyone, “You are this” or “You are that.” Likewise, I believe no one else has the right to engage in this kind of classification. However, as a researcher or historian, which is indeed my field, I can present my findings as opinions open to discussion. But I will not engage in such a discussion in an environment governed by the logic of “tying up the stones and unleashing the dogs,” (a Turkish expression describing a lawless or hostile atmosphere). It seems to me that this is precisely what you are doing — ignoring or rejecting any arguments that challenge your claims. I do not know why this is considered necessary, but recently, many people who describe themselves as researchers or historians have been trying to link Syriacs (Arameans-Assyrians-Chaldeans) to the Kurds and seeking to “Kurdify” various aspects of Syriac heritage. The historical truth is entirely clear. Much of what is now classified as “Kurdish” or “Kurdistani” originally belongs to the Syriacs. As a result, these individuals, who believe they are serving history and scholarship, are actually contributing to the thickening of the walls separating peoples and deepening existing prejudices. This is deeply regrettable. The views expressed in this op-ed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of SyriacPress.