Simko

Simko (Simko Ağa) was one of the prominent Kurdish leaders of the early 20th century, known for the Simko Rebellion that developed in İran Kürdistanı. As the chief of the Şıkak (Şıkak/Sipkan) tribe, he operated in the border region where Ottoman, İran, and British forces intersected (Cilt 3, s. 131; Cilt 3, s. 146).

Armistice Period Alliances

Ottoman archival documents record that during the Armistice period, Simko Ağa allied with the İranlılar, joined forces with Şemdinanlı Seyit Taha, and intended to descend to Cizre via Van. It is also reflected in the documents that Seyit Taha lost his prestige among the tribes by forming an alliance with the Nasturiler during the same period (Cilt 3, s. 119).

Stance Against Non-Muslims

The documents also reveal Simko Ağa's harsh stance against non-Muslim communities in the region. The İran Veliahtı in Tebriz wrote to Simko that he would send Ermeni and Nasturiler to the region and that Simko should not interfere with them; however, Simko replied, "I will not allow a single Nasturi or Ermeni to enter Azerbaycan until only one Muslim remains!" After leaving 50 dead and wounded in his assault on Rumiye, he took control of the city, then attacked Maku and captured the brother of Maku Serdarı. This situation led Maku Serdarı, who had no relations with the Ermeniler, to unite with them, and the İngilizler tried to take advantage of this development (Cilt 3, s. 122). The killing of a Nasturi Ruhani Reisi by Şıkak Aşireti Reisi Simko Ağa was also the subject of a telegram sent by Van Valisi Haydar Bey to the Dâhiliye Nezareti (Cilt 3, s. 131).

British and Ottoman Relations

Simko Ağa's contacts with the İngilizler are extensively covered in the telegrams and documents of the period; some of the documents in the catalog are about the İngilizler's relations with Seyit Taha, Simko Ağa, and Kurdish tribes (Cilt 3, s. 134). In addition, it is documented that on 20 Ağustos 1919, in the Bayezid region, the İranlılar were defeated in a conflict with the Ermeniler and sought help from Simko Ağa. In the context of relations with the Ottoman administration, the request for Simko Ağa to be awarded a third-degree medal and Müküslü Mutiullah Bey a fourth-degree medal was conveyed by Van Valisi Mithat Bey to the Dâhiliye Nezareti (Cilt 3, s. 125).

Expansion of Power

Documents from subsequent years show the expansion of Simko's power. In correspondence dated 1922, it is recorded that a large part of İran Kürdistanı was occupied by Simko's forces, the İran army was defeated, and the conflicts in question occurred directly between Simko Ağa's forces and the İran state, not among İran tribes. The same documents also refer to Simko Ağa's relations with Ankara (Cilt 3, s. 142).

Along with the Koçgiri, Cemil Çeto, and Milli tribe rebellions that developed in Kürdistan against the İstanbul and Ankara governments during the Armistice period, detailed information about the Simko Rebellion in İran Kürdistanı can be found in the Ottoman archive (Cilt 3, s. 146).