Assyrians, Kurds, and Ottomans: Intercommunal Relations on the Pe ...

The battle had not lasted more than two days. Bedr Khan himself had been sent to Diarbekir under strong guard. Several of his immediate followers who had taken part in the massacres against the Nestorians had been detained, but many others were still free, among them, Zenal Beg. Mulla Abdul Qaddus was considered the prime agitator who had preached constantly for eliminating the Assyrian males and enslaving the females, and his preaching had helped to support the Kurdish leader. Rassam urged that such individuals must not escape the punishment of the law. Now that the region had entered a new chapter, it was for the Ottoman government, if it had the will and determination, to impose law and order and to keep peace and tranquillity there. Moreover, if it wished to protect the Christians, all those who had mistreated the non-Kurdish inhabitants must be made to account for their actions and removed from the administration. This would also help the Ottomans to establish their authority firmly.³⁵

The vice-consul attached with his dispatch the report of Shammas Anton, who described with many details the capture of Bedr Khan Beg and his imprisonment. He mentioned that four days after his departure from al Jazirah, he had reached the imperial camp at Avrak Kaleh (), which belonged to Bedr Khan Beg. On Wednesday, the Ottoman army had assaulted Bedr Khan’s entrenchment. Omar Pasha had ordered the beginning of the attack. The battle had lasted until the next day, and when it had been decided to ambush the place, the fighting had become so intense that Mustafa Pasha was killed. At 10 a.m. on Sunday, it was decided to start the final assault. Bedr Khan had then decided to surrender with his three hundred fighters, along with two cannon, asking for ‘clemency’, and then the Turkish commander had arrested the Kurdish leader himself.³⁶

8. Bedr Khan Beg in Chains: 23 August 1847

Finally the mighty Kurdish leader had fallen from his glory, and a British informant at the scene of the operation reported that Bedr Khan Beg, along with his supporters, had been led through the bazaar of al Jazirah on 23 August.