Historical Overview
The city of Zakho is located in northern Iraq, just 10 kilometers from the Turkish border, situated on both banks of the Khabur River. The Khabur is one of the tributaries of the Tigris River, into which it flows. The city lies on low, flat plains and is known for its humid and unhealthy climate. Zakho has existed since ancient times, even before the Common Era (B.C.). Its name is derived from the ancient Chaldean language and means “the successful” or “the victorious.”
Presence of the Armenian Community
The first mention of an Armenian community in Zakho appears in the travel book by John Asher, titled “Travels from London to Persepolis” (Persepolis being the ancient capital of Persia). He visited Zakho in 1865, noting:
“The inhabitants of Zakho consisted of Kurds, Chaldeans, and Armenians.
The Armenians, in particular, were mostly shopkeepers.”
However, Asher did not mention the number of Armenian families, and available Armenian sources do not confirm an Armenian presence in Zakho at that time.
According to the information we have, before the massacres of 1895–1896, there were about 4 or 5 Armenian families living in Zakho.
Note: The Armenian priest in Mosul, Reverend Father Karekin Youssefian, was born in Zakho in 1928 and was baptized there on April 1st by Reverend Father Krikor Der Hagopian. This priest recalls that his mother told him that before 1895, there were Armenian families living in the wealthy Jewish quarter of Zakho.
After the massacres, the number of Armenians in Zakho rose to around 100 families, most of them being Kurdish-speaking Armenians who arrived from nearby towns such as Dehi and Shirnak.
According to the historian Dr. G. Estarjian, in his book “A Glance Back at Life” (page 125), Shirnak was administratively part of the Diyarbekir Vilayet (Dikranagerd), but due to ongoing trade relations with Zakho, there was frequent movement between the two areas. The number of Kurdish-speaking Armenians in Zakho reached around 30 individuals.
Additionally, Arabic-speaking Armenians from the city of Sghert also came to Zakho. They initially settled in a neighborhood called Kasta, which gradually became an Armenian quarter. Most of these Sghert Armenians later relocated to Mosul, where they settled permanently. To this day, these Armenians have retained their Arabic language.
