Sayfo; Village of ‘Ayn-Wardo

‘Ayn-Wardo: Syriac Christian Resistance During the Sayfo

The Sayfo, was a systematic extermination of Christian communities in the Ottoman Empire during World War I The village of 'Ayn-Wardo (also spelled Iwardo, Ain Wardo, or Gülgöze) in Tur-Abdin mountainous area was a crucial site of Syriac Christian resistance during this period.

'Ayn-Wardo was a large Syriac village built on a high hill, approximately two hours' walk from Midyat. Its church building was located at the top of the hill and surrounded by high walls, serving as a fortress. This fortification allowed it to become a traditional safe haven. It stands out as one of the rare instances where Syriac resistance resulted in a victory against the Ottoman forces and Kurdish tribes. Notably, it was one of the few places where Syriacs/Arameans were able to remain in their homeland by means of their weapons at the end of the war.

Before the massacres, 'Ayn-Wardo was home to 200 to 230 Syriac Orthodox families, with no Muslims residing there other than servants. As massacres spread across the region, 'Ayn-Wardo became a critical refuge. An estimated 6,000 to 7,000 Syriac Christians from various surrounding villages, including Bote, Habses, Kafarbe, Kafro, Midyat, Zaz, 'Arnas, and Mizizah, assembled there for safety in the summer of 1915. Approximately a thousand men, who had fled Midyat, also sought refuge in 'Ayn-Wardo. The villagers prepared for the impending attacks by bringing in their harvest earlier than usual.

Mas’ud Shabo from Mizizah, experienced in dealing with Kurds, Yezidis, and Muhallemi tribes, was chosen as the leader of the defense. He developed a strategic plan, which included strengthening ties with neighboring Yezidis and expelling some Kurdish and Yezidi servants, though others were hidden in caves to avoid complications. The village of Anhel played a role in supporting 'Ayn-Wardo by smuggling salt, food, and weapons to the besieged stronghold.

The Ottoman authorities, along with some Kurdish tribes, claimed that the Syriac Christians in 'Ayn- Wardo, Bsorino, and Azakh were in revolt against the state, a claim survivors' accounts describe as a misrepresentation. The village faced attacks from combined forces of Kurds, Turks, and Muhallemi. The resistance mounted by 'Ayn-Wardo was significant and The siege of 'Ayn-Wardo lasted for an impressive duration, recorded as either 52 or 60 days

Gallo Shabo, a prominent figure in the defense of 'Ayn-Wardo, later wrote a poem detailing the battle. His account describes 12,000 armed fighters encamped against the village, highlighting the "approximately tenfold superiority" of the attackers, who included the German military. The resistance involved fierce confrontations, with the Syriac Christians facing "shooting and artillery fire by Ottoman Turkish troops, Kurds and gendarmes."

Syriac fighters from 'Ayn-Wardo also went to aid other villages, such as Kfarze, helping them flee and engaging in battles with Kurdish forces. They even sent 300 men to free hostages held in nearby Dermuske, successfully exchanging them for Abdulrahman's sister, whom they had taken captive. Bishop Mor Philoxenos Abdelahad Beth Mase from Upper Kafro was also a highly significant figure during the Sayfo in 'Ayn-Wardo who lost his life in 1915

A cease-fire was eventually negotiated by Shaykh Fathullah, a Muhallemi religious leader, who ordered the attackers to disperse and guaranteed safe passage for the Syriacs. Despite the assurance of amnesty, most Syriac Christians chose to remain within the fortified village rather than return to their original homes, likely due to mistrust. Those who did attempt to return to their villages were sometimes shot on their way back. Even after the main hostilities, the villagers faced hardships like famine, and some who ventured out for firewood were killed by former adversaries, indicating that violence continued even after the initial massacres.

Suggested Readings:

• de Courtois, Sébastien (2013), The forgotten genocide : eastern Christians, the last Arameans, translated by Vincent Aurora

• Gaunt, David (2006), Massacres, Resistance, Protectors; Muslim–Christian Relations in Eastern Anatolia during World War I

• Shabo, Talay & Barthoma, Soner O (2015), Sayfo 1915. An Anthology of Essays on the Genocide of Assyrians/Arameans during the First World War