Duhok

Duhok (Dehük), located today in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, is a Kurdish settlement which was a kaza center (district) affiliated with the Musul vilayet (province) during the Ottoman period. Ottoman press sources directly define the kaza: "Duhok: It is a kaza center in the Musul Vilayet. Most of its inhabitants are Kurdish." (Volume 4, p. 107).

Ancient Sources

The name of the region appears in the oldest sources within small settlements and ethno-geographical designations. In ancient sources, small settlements such as Dosa (Dasin, affiliated with Duhok?) are mentioned alongside names like Marde, Savara, and Gomara (Gever?) (Volume 1, p. 35). Armenian historian Ełishe, while listing regions extending from the vicinity of Lake Van to Mesopotamia with the expressions Korduk and Kordik, also mentions the name Dasn/Duhok(?) (Volume 1, p. 78).

Administrative Division and Population

In administrative divisions, Duhok is counted among the kazas affiliated with the Musul vilayet, along with Akre, Zibar, Zaho, Sincar, and İmadiye (Volume 4, p. 119). According to population and settlement data, the Duhok kaza encompassed 215 villages and one nahiye (Volume 4, p. 127).

Ethnic and Religious Structure

The ethnic and religious structure of the kaza is described in detail in the sources. When introducing the Duhok kaza, the statement "among the inhabitants of the kaza, the Doski, Şerefan, Şemskan, and Benani tribes are settled; there are about three hundred nomadic and semi-nomadic households from the Ertuşi tribe and others. Their sect is Shafi'i, and their language is Kurdi" is included; thus, both the settled tribes, the nomadic population, their adherence to the Shafi'i sect, and the spoken language being Kurdish are recorded (Volume 4, p. 271).

World War I Period

During the turbulent period following World War I, Duhok is frequently mentioned in Ottoman archival documents. It is reflected in documents that the Kurdish tribes of Zaho, Duhok, and İmadiye in the Musul region played a decisive role in the regional balances (Volume 3, p. 122). It was recorded that after a British detachment heading to İmadiye was defeated by the people of İmadiye, these forces were pursued as far as Duhok and repelled (Volume 3, p. 123).