Summary
Sinior’s elder brother, also called Shaban or Shaban Efendi in segment 03.01. He had previously lived in Russia and spoke fluent Russian. During the violence in Kohneh Shahr, he was spared after a Russian officer heard him speak the language, and was later brought before David Khan. While riding armed alongside the Christian forces, he saved Hossam and Yusuf Ali from their captors and escorted them to Ula; the two men later helped his family during a period of starvation. In segment 04.01, his work as a tailor in Başkale enables the family to improve its circumstances and enlarge its home; segment 04.03 again mentions it as a source of family income. After the accusation in segment 04.04, he sells the house intending to leave, but changes his mind and remains in Başkale.
Names and spelling variants
Shimon; Shaban; brother Shimon; elder brother; Shaban Efendi; Shimon Demirel
Mentioned in the book
Chapter One – Salmas; segment 01.07 – The Death of Mar Shimun; Chapter Three – Wanderings; segment 03.01 – The Return to Kuhna Shahr; Chapter Three – Wanderings; segment 03.03 – Dilman; Chapter Four – Bashhalan; segment 04.01 – Bashhalan; segment 04.03 – The Wealth Tax; segment 04.04 – The Accusation
Research note
The surname Demirel is used here to identify the family. It was adopted at a later date and was not in use during the period in which the events described took place.