Baz, Turkey
Baz (Syriac-Aramaic: ܒܙ) is an Assyrian was a region within Hakkari. It is currently a non-administrative region located in the Hakkâri Province of Turkey. To the north of Baz is located Kara Kuş, to the East is Jilu and to the south east is Dağ İçinde.
The word "Baz" means a type of eagle. Members are Aramaic speaking, ethnic Assyrian Christians and are followers of the East Syriac Rite with the majority following the Assyrian Church of the East, followed by the Chaldean Catholic Church and the Ancient Church of the East. The Assyrians of Baz were well known for their courage as fighters and their reputation as builders. The most well-built and designed Nestorian churches in the Hakkari were in the Baz region. Her patron saint is Mar Qayyoma and too a greater extent Mar Zaia as the area was under the spiritual guidance of the Mar Sargis Bishops who resided in Jilu.
Baznaye are located in the Assyrian homeland, mainly in North Iraq and North-east Syria. There are 2 villages located in the Khabur valley in Syria, 2 villages in the Simele district, 2 in Dohuk and 2 near Sarang all of which are located in Iraq. These villages have preserved the Assyrian Baz dialect and traditions. Today the Assyrians of Baz, along with many Assyrians can be found all over the world in countries such as: United States, Australia, Sweden, Germany, France and so on. Assyrian Baznaye still identify each other through the old villages which existed in the Baz region in Hakkari.
The Baz region, unfortunately, is hard to access due to the mountainous terrains and the conflicts between the Turkish government and Kurdish rebels.
[edit] Assyrian villages of Baz
All of the villages that the Assyrian Baznaye resided in have been abandoned since 1915 at the start of the Assyrian genocide, however some church buildings still stand, namely Mar Qayyoma in Shwawuta, Mar Quraqos in Argab and Mart Maryam in Be-Selim.
- Orwantuz (abandoned)
- Shwawuta (abandoned)
- Maha Khtayya (abandoned)
- Be-Selim (abandoned)
- Argab (abandoned)
- Kojij (abandoned)
- Tovaye (abandoned - Kurdish village)
- Tal Baz (located in the Khabur area in Syria)
- Upper Tal Rumman (located in the Khabur area in Syria)
- Sorka
- Babilo
- Sardarawa
- Badarrash
- Bagereh
- Mawana
- Chaqala (located in Barwar)
- Pirozawa
[edit] Famous Baznaye
- General Agha Petros Elia of Baz - Assyrian military leader during World War I and Chief Negotiator for the Assyrian/Chaldean/Syriac people.
- Mar Narsai D'Baz - Assyrian Church of the East late Metropolitan of Syria, Lebanon, and all of Europe.
- Mar Zaia Khoshaba - Ancient Church of the East Bishop of Baghdad and Secretary of the Synod.
- Demitri Elloff - Co-founder of the Assyrian Universal Alliance and son of General Agha Petros
- Malik Khammou - the last chief (malik) of the Baz region
- Malik Yonan - who repulsed the attacks by the leader of Pizan Kurds
- Malik Shakha - repulsed the attacks by the Kurds of Pinyanis.
- Malik Younan II - did not pay taxes to the Turks for eight years and freely ruled his tribe.
- Malik Hormis - who several times repulsed raids by Kurds of Urmar. This malik, when it was necessary, could raise 900 volunteer fighters.
- Ninos Nirari - Author of Agha Petros' biography and many other books, and Assyrian activist.
- John Dashto - Famous Assyrian singer and musician
- Julie Yousif - Famous Assyrian singer
- Edward Yousif - Famous keyboard player
- Bazi Romyo Abdal - Assyrian keyboard/saz player in Germany from Syria Tel Ruman
- Robin Talow - Assyrian Iraqi singer
