Brief von Scheich Ubeydullah

an den amerikanischen Missionsarzt Joseph Cochran in Urmia, 5. Oktober 1880 (Ausschnitt)

[...] The Kurdish nation, consisting of more than 500,000 families, is a people apart. Their religion is different [from that of others], and their laws and customs are distinct. It is known among all nations as mischievous and corrupt. This is how Kurdistan has been depicted. If one person [from among them] does an evil deed, a thousand peaceable and orderly persons gain an ill repute. Be it known to you for certain that this has all been caused by the laches [sic -> lackeys] of the Turkish and Persian authorities, for Kurdistan is in the midst between these two countries, and both Governments, for their own reasons, do not distinguish between good and evil characters. It is thus that bad characters remain unreformed, and respectable people get an ill repute, and become ruined. Among other evil things, you have probably heard of the tribe of Ali Agha Shekak, who are famous for their evil and ruin-causing deeds – ruinous alike to native and foreign sects, Mohammedans and others. Every Government has heard of their wicked doings. Owing to neglect or want of power on the part of Persia, these people will never be civilized, and will remain in their savage state. The evil deeds of the Harkee tribe, who are Turkish subjects, are also apparent. The Ottoman Government also, like the Persian, either had not the means of civilizing these people or else neglects them. Kurdistan has got a bad reputation, and has been disgraced. Distinction is not made been [sic] peaceable an devil-disposed persons. The Chiefs and Rulers of Kurdistan, whether Turkish or Persian subjects, and the inhabitants of Kurdistan, one and all are united and agreed that matters cannot be carried on in this way with the two Governments, and that necessarily something must be done, so that European Governments having understood the matter, shall inquire into our state. We also are a nation apart. We want our affairs to be in our own hands, so that in the punishment of our own offenders we may be strong and independent, and have privileges like other nations; and respecting our offenders, we are ready to take upon ourselves that no harm or damage shall accrue to any nation. This is our object, and the reasons of my son's going to Souj Boulak, so as to obtain inquiry into the state of Kurdistan, and no mischief occur, otherwise the whole of Kurdistan will take the matter into their own hands, as they are unable to put up with these continual evil deeds, and the oppression which they suffer at the hands of the two Governments.

Parliamentary Papers, 100 (1881), Cmd. 2851, no. 47; zitiert in Joseph, John, The Nestorians and their Neighbours, A Study of Western Influence on their Relations, Princeton, 1961, S. 109 f.