Barzanis were originally Yezidis who in 19th century converted to the Sufiormystical form of SunniIslam. By late 19th century, the Barzani tribe, who were led by a Barzani sheikh (hereditary local ruler), had established a local tekkeyeh and attracted support of several other Kurdish tribes.[4]
The tekkeyeh became an asylum for the aggrieved local Kurdish tribes, assisting in strengthening the authority of the Barzani sheikhdom in the region and becoming the focal point of a claim for greater regional autonomy from what was at the time the Ottoman Empire.[5][4]
The tribe has many Jewish members as well.[6] Other than the Barzani tribe, the Barzanis consist of the Sherwani, Muzuri, Beroji, Nizari, Dolomari, Herki bneji and Gerdi tribes.[7] During the Anfal campaign, about 8,000 members of the tribe were massacred.[8]
Persecution
On 10 June 1932 the Iraqi Army approached the Barzanis to avenge their prior uprising. Some 400 families had to leave their possessions and fled. Numerous women and children of the Barzani tribe fled to Turkey meanwhile about 250 men stayed to defend their homeland.
Between 1932 and 1934 the Iraqi Army together with the Royal Air Force attacked and destroyed 79 villages in the Barzan area. 2382 families were displaced from area. On 11 November 1945 the Royal Air Force bombed the area again, destroying 35 villages. More than 15.000 civilians fled to Iran.
On 10 April 1947, the Iranian Army launched attacks on the Barzanis with tanks and artillery which led to 5000 men, women and children fleeing and returning to Iraqi Kurdistan, where they were imprisoned and held captive for between 2 and 12 years.[9]
In July and August 1983, by the orders of President Saddam Hussein[10] over 8,000 men and boys of the Barzani tribe, some as young as 13, were killed by the Ba'athist Iraq.[11][12][13]
