Bebadi

Bebadi is an Assyrian Christian village located at the side of the Mateena Mountains overlooking Sapna Valley, in the Iraqi providence of Dohuk. The village is very close to the ancient rocky fortress of Amadia, which was built during the era of Assyrian Empire. The residents of Bebadey followers of the Assyrian Church of the East.

The residents of Bebadi think their village was built some 900 years ago at which time the village’s church of “Saint Shmony and her children” was first founded.

Prior to 1961 civil war between Kurds and Iraqi government, there was nearly 80 families (500 people) living in Bebadeyy. The village had lots of plants and its residents were self sufficient on their domestic animals and farming such as crops, vegetables and fruits. The village was regarded as a summer resort for vacationers from other parts of Iraq.

The main source of income for the residents of Bebadeyy comes from farming. Tourism is still far from generating any income due to fact of absence of facilities that attract tourism. Also the security and stability are other factors in attracting tourists.

1961 - present

After the 1961 conflict many villages in north of Iraq were either partially or totally destroyed. Bebadi was no exception; thee majority houses of this village were eradicated in the priod between 1961 and 1977. As a consequence, many residents were forced to leave their village and take refuge in nearby towns as result of economic hardship, instability and war. Nevertheless, Bebadi was never completely deserted until 1987, when the village was entirely levelled to ground. At this time, the remaining residents were forcibly removed from their village to other cities; some of them took asylum in western countries.

After the uprising in the aftermath of Gulf war 1991, and the designation the region as a safe haven under the protection of allied forces, residents started returning to their villages.

ee also

List of Assyrian villages