The Move to Başkale

News reached Van that Simko had occupied Başkale and replaced the officials in the government building with his own men. Süleyman Sabri Bey, the frontier commander in Van who administered state affairs in the region, telephoned him and said, “My brother, I too am a Kurd, although no one knows it. Sheikh Said is active in north-eastern Turkey, and all my efforts are devoted to pursuing him. Do nothing destructive now. If you wait for me, I shall come.” Simko gathered his men and returned to Iran.

After the authorities overcame Sheikh Said, Simko sent Sabri Bey two fine horses in thanks for the advance warning and for not fighting him. When Ankara asked why he had allowed Simko to leave, Sabri Bey replied that as long as Sheikh Said remained active he had been forced to direct all his efforts against him. He had then intended to turn on Simko and clear him from the region, but Simko departed before he could do so.

Turkish forces later entered Iranian territory by way of Kars to outflank the Kurds, acting in coordination with the Iranians. The manoeuvre took Simko’s forces by surprise, and within a few days they scattered in every direction.¹ Simko fled to Turkey and requested asylum, but stipulated that his armed followers must accompany him and that he be allowed to join local tribes and live there unharmed. The Turks accepted his conditions, and he was received in the village of Der near Başkale. They treated him as a guest and provided food and shelter for his men.

A company of Turkish soldiers was stationed beside Simko’s camp. One week later, in the early hours of the morning, the soldiers opened fire on the Kurdish tents. Simko ordered his men not to return fire, because he did not wish to sever his relations with the Turks completely. He gathered his followers and retreated towards Iraq. They continued to suffer losses from Turkish fire during the withdrawal; one of those killed was one of Simko’s wives.

In their flight, the Kurds left behind tents and sacks of money and gold. Some of the sacks — said to number one hundred, each containing one thousand Reshad gold coins² — fell into the hands of Turkish soldiers. The rest were confiscated, taken to Başkale, and then sent on to Van.

My brother Shimon said that the villagers around Başkale had become rich. “A great deal of gold fell into their hands, and people are still finding coins among the grass.” He knew a little tailoring and decided to learn the trade in Van and open a business in Başkale. “Perhaps I shall find a bride there too,” he said. “Many Jewish families have gathered, and they have a rabbi.” After learning cutting and sewing for a few days, he left for Başkale. There proved to be no tailor in the town, and within a few months he had saved enough money to invite us to join him. In his message he wrote, “At least there is Jewish life here and a rabbi who performs ritual slaughter. From now on we shall be able to eat meat as well.”