1. Simko Shikak was a nationalist warlord who controlled significant land and led thousands of Kurdish rebels who defeated the Iranian army on several occasions.
30 Facts About Simko Shikak
1. 2.
Simko Shikak engaged in ethnic conflicts against Assyrians and Azerbaijanis.
3.
Simko Shikak was assassinated by the Iranian government in 1930.
4.
Simko Shikak became the leader of the Shekak tribe after his elder brother, Jafar Agha, was killed in 1905.
5.
Simko Shikak was in contact with Kurdish revolutionaries such as Seyyed Taha Gilani, the grandson of Sheikh Ubeydullah.
6.
Simko Shikak was the most prominent figure who approached the consulate.
7.
Simko Shikak visited the Russian consulate in Urmia again in 1911 and visited Russia in 1912.
8.
In World War I, the Russians were expelled from the region after the Ottomans captured Urmia and Tabriz in December 1914, after which Simko Shikak allied with the Ottomans.
9.
However, the alliance broke shortly after, as Simko Shikak was often paranoid and believed that the Assyrians wanted to establish a state in Kurdish lands and ethnically cleanse the Kurds.
10.
Simko Shikak frequently changed sides as he was willing to ally with anyone who benefitted the Kurds.
11.
Simko Shikak later assassinated Shimun XIX Benyamin in March 1918, and sided with the Ottomans when they invaded Iran in summer 1918.
12.
In 1918, the Simko Shikak revolt began, aimed at establishing an independent Kurdish state.
13.
However, Simko Shikak was primarily considered a tribal leader, as he lived in a time where Kurds primarily gave their allegiance to their tribe and had no concept of unity for a national cause.
14.
Simko Shikak lacked administration, which made him less successful than his contemporaries Mohammad Khiabani and Mirza Kuchik Khan.
15.
Simko Shikak was a pioneer of Kurdish nationalism and was among the first to attempt to unite Kurds of various tribal affiliation for a national cause.
16.
Simko Shikak's failure was primarily due to the lack of nationalism among Kurds.
17.
In 1919, Simko Shikak sent a letter to the British civil commissioner of Iraq, demanding Kurdish independence.
18.
Also in 1919, Yusuf Adl Mukarram ul-Molk, the governor of Iranian Azerbaijan, devised a plot to kill Simko Shikak by sending him a present with a bomb hidden in it.
19.
When Simko Shikak captured Mahabad in October 1921, some Kurds fell victim to the looting.
20.
Simko Shikak stated that he highly discouraged any violence against other Kurds, and claimed that he was not able to restrain his men who were used to pillaging after fighting.
21.
Simko Shikak was known among Iranian Azerbaijanis as the "Butcher of Azerbaijan".
22.
Simko Shikak had organized a strong Kurdish army which was much stronger than Iranian government forces.
23.
The strength of the Iranian Army force dispatched against Simko Shikak was 10,000 soldiers.
24.
On January 8,1923, Simko Shikak visited the Kingdom of Kurdistan and met with Mahmud Barzanji.
25.
Simko Shikak was welcomed with a military parade, and the day of his visit was made a national holiday.
26.
In 1924, Reza Khan pardoned Simko Shikak, who returned to Iran from exile.
27.
When Reza Khan became Reza Shah in 1925, Simko Shikak pledged eternal loyalty to him and the Iranian state.
28.
However, in 1926, Simko Shikak allied with the Herki and Begzada tribes, regained leadership of the Shekak tribe, and began another revolt.
29.
In 1930, General Hassan Moghaddam, the commander of the Iranian Army, sent a letter to Simko Shikak, who was residing in the village of Barzan, inviting him for a meeting in the town of Oshnaviyeh.
30.
On June 30,1930, Colonel Norouzi convinced Simko Shikak to go to the outskirts of Oshnavieh to welcome General Moghaddam.