General Information
Nahiya (Subdistrict)
Şiyê
Also Known As
Jiqallali Tahtani, Wadi al-Tha'alib, Çeqelê Jerin, Çeqelê Ĥusik, جقلا تحتاني, جقلللي تحتاني, وادي الثعالب, چقللي تحتاني, جقاليه جيرن
Tribes
Milli, Reşwan, Çeqela, Çeqelî
Families, Clans, etc.
Bekir, Caro, Fîlê, Huseyn, Hûsik, Ibiş, Kor Belo, Mehmûd, Mistefa
Photos
Basic Information about Çeqelê Jêrin
Source: Ax û Welat (Information for Çeqelê Jêrin and Çeqelê Jorin)
Etymology: Named after the Çeqela tribe
Foundation Date/Period: Approximately 300 years ago
Wells: Bîra Xelîl Bekir
Summaries
I. Summary from TirejAfrin Site (English) of Çeqelê Jêrin
Source: https://www.tirejafrin.com/site/kura%20afrin%20%20%20shiye%20-%20ceqele%20jerin.htm
It is stated in the book جبل الكرد (عفرين) دراسة جغرافية Çiyayê Kurmênc (Efrîn): A Geographical Study by د. محمد عبدو علي Dr. Mihemed Ebdo Elî: Çeqelî Jêrîn - Çeqelî Hûsik, Çeqelî Tehtanî, Valley of Foxes /676 inhabitants - 245 (hectares) - 10km - 420m/:
Some residents say that the name Çeqel means "Jackal," which is applied to the three villages. It is derived from a spotted basalt rock resembling the color of that animal that was there, called Kevir Kuncilî in Kurdish. Furthermore, Çeqelî is one of the Kurdish tribes in Çiyayê Kurmênc. The village is named for its location on the lower end of the slope. It is also known by the name of one of its early residents, whose nickname was Hûsik.
The village is situated atop a limestone peak, overlooking the Amuq plain to the west, and is approximately 1.5km from the Turkish border.
It is stated in the book عفرين .... نهرها وروابيها الخضراء Efrîn... Her River and Her Green Hills by the writer عبدالرحمن محمد Ebdulrehman Mihemed from the village of Qetme:
Çeqelî Jêrîn: A village in Çiyayê Kurmênc, affiliated with the Şiyê district, Efrîn region, Heleb governorate. It is a small village located on the western slope of the Çiyayê Kurmênc massif in the central part, atop a high limestone peak. It overlooks agricultural lands with alluvial soil to the west. It is 10km away from the town of Şiyê in a northwesterly direction.
It is bordered to the north by a deep valley and the villages of /Seûlcik/ and /Çeqelî Jorîn/; to the south by a plain planted with olive trees and the town of /Şiyê/; to the west directly by the Turkish border; and to the east by a mountainous height and the village of /Şêx Çeqelî/.
The number of its houses is about 25, and its age is about 150 years. Its dwellings are made of stone and mud with wooden roofs, and modern houses have been built within the courtyards of the old houses. The residents work in rain-fed agriculture (olives, grains, vines) alongside raising sheep and goats. The village gets its drinking water from rainwater collected in cisterns dug next to the houses. An electricity and telephone network is available. It connects to the district center via a winding paved road, and it contains a border guard station.
Among the families present in the village are: Kor Belo, the Ibiş family, the Hûsik family, the Caro family, and the Mehmûd family.
There are many intellectuals and university degree holders in the village. It is mentioned that the artist Xelîl Xemgîn is a resident of this village. Among the cultural figures is Mr. Cemîl Mamad, and the Mukhtar of the village is Mr. Xilûsî Cefer.
Preparation and Execution:
Manager of the Tirej Efrîn website: Ebdulrehman Hacî Osman
20/12/2013
Sources:
- Book: جبل الكرد (عفرين) دراسة جغرافية Çiyayê Kurmênc (Efrîn): A Geographical Study by د. محمد عبدو علي Dr. Mihemed Ebdo Elî.
- Book: عفرين .... نهرها وروابيها الخضراء Efrîn... Her River and Her Green Hills by عبدالرحمن محمد Ebdulrehman Mihemed from the village of Qetme.
II. Summary of Çeqelê Jêrin and Çeqelê Jorin from Ax û Welat
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsXnePr7HtQ
The village of Çeqela, located in the Efrîn region (specifically Çiyayê Kurmênc), is a historically significant settlement comprising three distinct sections: Çeqela Jorîn, Çeqela Jêr, and a third section implied by the "three Çeqelas" reference. The village derives its name from the Çeqela tribe, which serves as the primary kinship group in the area. According to local oral history, the Çeqela are a branch of the Milli tribal confederation, specifically linked to the Reşwan branch, who migrated from Bakurê Kurdistanê and the çiyayê Reşwan region.
The founding of the current settlement dates back approximately 300 years. The village origin story centers on two brothers, Mamoste Xelîl Bekir and Osmanê Xelîl Bekir, who migrated from Amed with a massive flock of 10,000 sheep. Arriving in a rugged, waterless terrain, their discovery of water was miraculous; a goat (k'erik) returned to the herd with a wet mouth, leading the shepherds to a hidden spring. Mamoste Xelîl Bekir sacrificed the goat as an offering and dug a well at the spot. This well, known as Bîra Xelîl Bekir, became the nucleus of the village. The residents note that an older well once existed but was sealed after an old woman fell into it.
The village has a deep connection to the geopolitical history of the Syria-Turkey border. Elders recount the era when Îngilîz and Fransa forces drew the borders (sînor), effectively separating the community from their kin in Bakurê Kurdistanê, where another village named Çeqela still exists near Qerexan. Residents describe the hardship under the French Mandate, including forced labor (şixre) and the requisitioning of grain. This era also saw resistance from the Mirûd, a group of Kurds who took up arms against the French forces in the village.
Socially, Çeqela is renowned for its emphasis on education and culture. The village boasts a high number of medical professionals and university graduates. It is the birthplace of several notable figures, including the politician Mihemed Bekir (known as Nîjû), the activist Ehmed Fîlê, and Kûçik Emer. In the realm of arts, Çeqela is celebrated as the home of the renowned artist Xelîl Xemgîn and the painter Adnan Huseyn. The Bekir family remains a prominent lineage, preserving the musical traditions passed down from elders like Apê Mihemed.
In recent times, the village has been impacted by regional conflict. Some residents, like Apê Omer, are displaced persons from Heleb who have returned to their ancestral lands, in some cases living in caves due to a lack of housing. The legacy of conflict is also visible in the stories of landmine survivors like Apê Semîr, who suffered injuries from mines laid in the open lands along the border. Despite these challenges, the community maintains a strong attachment to their land and history.
Transcriptions and Subtitles
| Source | Video | Subtitles | Transcript |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ax û Welat 1 | Watch Video | Download SRT | View Transcript |
Possible Village Name Meaning of Çeqelê Jêrin
The name "Çeqel" means "jackal" and is derived from a spotted basaltic rock (Kevrî Kuncili) similar in color to that animal. "Jiqali" is also a Kurdish tribe. The village is also known by the nickname of one of its early inhabitants, "Ĥusik."
Source: TirejAfrin Site