Baz (Syriac-Aramaic: ܒܙ) was a semi-autonomous Assyrian district within Hakkari. It is currently a non-administrative region located in the Hakkâri Province of Turkey. To the north of Baz is located Kara Kuş, to the East is Jilu and to the south east is Dağ İçinde.
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History
The word Baz means falcon in Kurdish and Persian. Members are Aramaic speaking, ethnic Assyrian Christians. Argabaye and Artusnaye were fine architects and builders. Mahaye and Shawutnaye the administrators in the region and also heavily involved in the militia. Maha Khtayya was the chief village of the region, followed by Shwawuta. All the Maliks descended from the hereditary Malik-Younan family. The last malik, Malik Khamo Younan of Maha Khtayya died in 1937 at Baghdad, Iraq. Meanwhile, Selimnaye (and Kojiknaye) were renowned blacksmiths who worked not only in Baz, but throughout all of Upper Mesopotamia. To this present day, many descendants in Iraq continue to work as blacksmiths and their legacy shall continue. The Baz region was also the birthplace and ancestral home of the Assyrian World War I commander General Agha Petros.
Baznaye are traditionally adherents of the Assyrian Church of the East, and the majority remain adherents. Baznaye can also be found in the Chaldean Catholic Church due to the conversions made in the early 20th century and resettlement near traditional Chaldean villages. Some Baznaye also joined the Ancient Church of the East after the 1968 schism. A very small minority also adhere to Presbyterianism, Anglicanism and Evangelicalism. The patron saint of the region is Mar Qayyoma. Mar Zaia is also highly revered as it was the cathedral church of Diocese of Jilu and Baz.
Currently, Baznaye are found in about 10 villages between Iraq and Syria, mainly segregated according to village affiliation. Political and economic unrest in Iraq and the Middle East has forced Baznaye to leave their traditional homelands. They are currently found all over the world mainly in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and several Western European countries.
Original Assyrian villages
These are the original villages located in the Baz region. The region has been empty since they were abandoned in 1915 due to the Assyrian genocide. However, church buildings still stand; namely Mar Qayyoma in Shwawuta, Mar Quryaqos in Argab and Mart Maryam in Be-Selim. It is possible that several houses could be still standing. The region is currently difficult to access due to the mountainous terrains and the ongoing conflicts between the Turkish government and Kurdish rebels.
Current Baznayeh settlements
These are the villages occupied after the Baznayeh were resettled by the British in 1920s and the French in the 1930s.
Iraq
Ain Sifni, Sikrene, Babilo, Bagereh, Sardarawa, Sorka, Badarrash and Pirozawa remain inhabited to this day. The rest have been destroyed or abandoned due to the political circumstances that occurred in Iraq.
Syria