The Kurds in the Armenian Press (1850-1920) Part One

A reference study had remained sitting on my desk for a long time, gathering dust. While I kept telling myself, “I will work on it today or tomorrow,” the year 2026 arrived—known as the “Peace Process”—so I realized that there was no longer any point in postponing the matter any further, and I tried to summarize the study as quickly as possible.

This study, which spans 190 pages, was published in the Armenian capital, Yerevan, in 1980 under the supervision of an editorial committee that included H. Barsighian, A. Khatchadourian, and Y. Ghazarossian. The study is titled “Hay Barperagan Mamuli Krderi Masin” (Kurds in Armenian Periodicals: A Reference Study 1850-1920). Its introduction was written by Garlin Chachani, who served for many years as the head of the Kurdish Writers Section at the Writers’ Union of Armenia. After a brief overview of the history of Armenian-language periodicals, Chachani collected writings addressing the social, economic, political, and cultural conditions of the Kurds in various Anatolian provinces, the activities of Kurdish aghas and sheikhs, internal conflicts, the land issue, the Yezidis, Armenian-Kurdish relations, and other topics.

Those periodicals clearly highlight Armenian–Kurdish cultural ties, the social and economic conditions of the Kurds, their culture and folklore, and many other topics. It can be said that no people possessing a rich literary tradition and a printed press have written about the Kurds as extensively as they were covered in the Armenian press; as these publications document significant milestones, including the creation of the Kurdish alphabet, the printing of Kurdish literacy primers in Armenian script, and joint education for Kurdish children in Armenian schools.

Armenian, Turkish, and Kurdish workers lived together under harsh social and economic conditions. Undoubtedly, this reality left its marks on various aspects of the political destiny and spiritual life of these peoples. Chachani’s collection includes a large number of reports and commentaries showing that whenever the oppression and exploitation exerted by Turkish pashas and Kurdish aghas and beys increased, the bonds of friendship between Armenian and Kurdish workers were strengthened and they began to move together.

This reference study includes 1,302 different titles regarding the Kurds, titles that appeared in periodicals such as: “Azadamard” (Freedom Struggle – Istanbul), “Artsagang” (Echo), “Droshak” (The Banner – Geneva and Paris), “Hunchak” (The Bell – London), “Arshalouys Araratian” (Dawn of Ararat – Izmir), “Puzantion” (Byzantium – Istanbul), “Handes Amsorya” (Monthly Magazine – Austria), “Horizon”, “Masis” (Mount Ararat – Istanbul), “Megu Hayastani” (Bee of Armenia – Tiflis), “Mshak” (The Tiller – Tiflis), “Nor Tar” (New Era – Tiflis), and “Taraz” (Style – Tiflis), during the period between 1850 and 1920.

Translating all the information provided under these titles and including their entire content exceeds the scope of this study; therefore, we have limited ourselves to preparing a selection of the titles published in those periodicals. By tracking and reading the materials while documenting their dates and issue numbers, we made sure to present a brief summary of their content, even if in two lines, while granting broader space to some prominent reports and commentaries. We begin this selection, which we publish in a continuous series, with the newspaper «Azadamard».

Selections from the Newspaper “Azadamard”

This daily newspaper was published in Istanbul during the two periods (1909-1914) and (1918-1921), and it consisted of four pages with dimensions of (65×48 cm). Rubin Zartarian and Hagop Djololian (Sirouni) took turns editing it, with the participation of an elite group of intellectuals. Throughout its run, the newspaper was published at various times under alternative names, including: “Arashamard” (Vanguard Struggle), “Pakin” (Altar), “Bithynia”, “Aztag” (Factor/Influence), “Megu” (The Bee), “Shant” (Lightning), “Kagadamard” (The Battle), “Artaramard” (Just Struggle), and “Aryamard” (Brave Struggle).

“Azadamard” was the mouthpiece of the “Dashnak” Party (Armenian Revolutionary Federation), which possessed branches and representatives in most provinces, sanjaks, districts, and even villages with shared Kurdish and Armenian populations. Thanks to this extensive network, the newspaper published 162 reports, articles, and analyses about the Kurds between 1909 and 1914. Below is a survey of the most prominent of these reports and summaries of their contents:

1909, Issues 4-5

An article by Rubin Zartarian titled “Bahanch” – meaning “demand” or “need”.

The issue also includes a review of a novel in the Kurdish language, in addition to a report on the struggle of the “Dersim” Kurds and their resistance against Turkish harassment.

1909, Issue 6

Reports addressing the social and political conditions of the Kurds in the province of “Harput”, Armenian-Kurdish relations, and the policies of the Turkish government in this regard.

1909, Issues 18-19

A historical study addressing the origins of the Yezidis, their regions of presence, their population count, their lifestyle, and their beliefs and worship rituals. A report on the relations of friendship between Armenians and Kurds.

1909, Issue 18

A report on Armenian-Kurdish relations in the “Hinis” region (Erzurum province – Translator)

1909, Issue 20

A letter from the province of “Harput” regarding Kurdish-Armenian relations in the region, in addition to reports on Kurdish movements in “Dersim”.

1909, Issue 21

Reports on the tribal ties of the Kurds in the “Kiğı” region (Bingöl province – Translator) and the internal disputes between the aghas: Haydar, Mehmet, and Halil.

1909, Issue 21

An article about the Yezidis written by “A. Terziyan”. It includes information about the region inhabited by the Yezidis, their population count, their lifestyle, their origins, and the friendly relations connecting them with the Armenians.

1909, Issue 26

A letter from “Van” written by “A. Misag”. It includes information about Kurdish-Armenian relations in the province of “Van” and the Turkish government’s policies in this regard.

1909, Issue 28

A statistical article on the population count of the Yezidis by “H. Shahbazyan”. It includes information about the Yezidis and their locations.

1909, Issue 40

An article titled “Confessions of a Kurd Regarding a Hatched Plot”. “Ahmet Vazi” provides information to the Armenians of “Silvan” (Diyarbakır province – Translator) regarding a plot hatched by a number of Kurdish tribal leaders in preparation to attack Armenian villages.

1909, Issue 51

An article on the writing and literary movement among the Kurds by “S. H.”. And reports documenting the bonds of friendship between Armenians and Kurds, revealing the preparation of the first educational reading and writing book in the Kurdish language (Kurmanji dialect) written in Armenian letters, under the supervision of the “Dashnak” party.

1909, Issue 58

News: The famous Kurdish leader “Genco-Papari” continues launching his raids. Activities of the Kurdish leader in “Sason” (Batman province – Translator) and the conflict between Kurdish clans or tribes.

1909, No. 77

Reports on Kurdish–Armenian relations in the province of “Bitlis” and conflicts between Kurdish tribes.

1909, No. 77

A letter from Iran signed by “Aziz”: Information about Kurdish conflicts on the Iranian border and Kurdish–Russian relations.

1909, No. 88

Brief news from the province of “Van” signed by “A. Minag”: Kurdish-Armenian relations and the activities of Kurdish tribal leaders there.

1909, No. 101

A letter from “Van”: Friendly relations between Kurds and Armenians there, and the Turkish government’s moves to destabilize these relations.

1909, No. 112

A letter from “Bulanık” (Muş province – Translator): Armenian-Kurdish relations and the activities of the Kurdish aghas “Fati” and “Tizakh” in the province of “Bitlis”.

1910, No. 182

An unsigned article titled “Behind the Mountains”: Kurdish–Armenian friendship relations and an invitation from an Armenian political party to Kurdish workers for a joint struggle.

It also includes reports titled “The Kurds Arm Themselves”, “Meeting of Kurdish Leaders in Sason”, and “Arming the Kurds and a Call to Struggle to Face Turkish Pillage”.

To be continued……

About the Author Zakarya Mildanoğlu

Born in 1950 in Kayseri Province (Turkey). He studied architecture at Istanbul Technical University (İTÜ). During his university years, he actively participated in youth movements and the activities of the “Workers’ Party of Turkey” (TİP), then joined the “Communist Party of Turkey” (TKP) in 1976. Following the September 12 coup, he was arrested in connection with the trial related to the Communist Party in Istanbul and spent three years in prison.

Throughout his professional career in the field of architecture, he undertook the execution of prominent projects such as the construction of the “Kuzguncuk” gas plant (the first coal gas production plant in Turkey) and the head office building of “Shell” in Turkey, in addition to the restoration of the “Andonyan Union” Monastery in Ortaköy and the (Meryem Ana) Church in Beşiktaş. He also participated in the restoration process of the “Surp Hach” Church on Akdamar Island in the city of Van. He received an award for the restoration project of the “Surp Giragos” Church in Diyarbakır, a project he presented at the “Yerevan Biennale” in 2012.

(Translator)

Source: Madarat Kurd