Me'serkê

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoVgEQBYWZ8

The documentary explores the history and social fabric of two villages in the Afrin region, specifically Mehserkê and Şikate, which are located within the administrative district of Mobata. The narrative begins in Mehserkê, a small village described as being approximately five hundred years old. It is home to thirty two households and is defined by the presence of four specific families: Mala Ereb, Mala Resûl, Mala Memo, and Mala Şalîkê. The village center features a large old tree and stone basins used historically for processing wheat, representing the traditional agricultural life of the inhabitants.

The focus then shifts to the nearby village of Şikate, situated among neighbors such as Tirmîşo, Berko, Çûmasna, Elcora, and Xastora. A knowledgeable elder named Ebû Fîras provides a detailed account of the village's deep history. He reveals that the original name of the site was Keferpêva. According to him, the prefix "Kefer" originates from the language of the Rûm and translates to Hedîqe or garden. He compares this naming convention to other regional locations such as Kefersefrê, Kefercanê, Keferhemra, and Keferbatîx, suggesting the area was historically an agricultural garden or orchard during the Byzantine or Roman era.

While the physical ruins and foundations in Şikate are attributed to the Rûm and are estimated to be between 1,500 and 2,000 years old, the Kurdish settlement history is also significant. Ebû Fîras mentions that the original Kurdish founders of the village belonged to the Omerî tribe, descending from seven brothers who settled there. The current social structure includes families such as Mala Ciddû and Mala Heddû.

The documentary highlights several specific historical landmarks and tools within Şikate. The elder identifies a site called Dêr Mişo (originally Dêr Miş), explaining that "Dêr" signifies a church or kenîse, similar to the site of Hesen Dêro. This indicates a religious history pre dating the current population. Furthermore, the villagers have preserved ancient stone implements, including the Şehde, a stone structure used for pressing olives before the advent of modern presses, and the Daryûb, a stone used for grinding grains like wheat and lentils. These artifacts serve as physical connections to the agricultural heritage of the Omerî tribe and the civilizations that preceded them in the Afrin region.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KTgDHhOdl4

The village of Me'reskê, also locally known as Gundê Ûsiv, is located in the Şera district of the Efrîn canton, marking the entrance to Çiyayê Kurmênc. The name originates from the word Me'serê or Kuvaşk, referring to the numerous historic grape presses that once existed in the area.

The settlement has deep historical roots. Residents trace their ancestral presence back three to four hundred years, with the population primarily belonging to the Şikakan tribe. The dominant family lineage is Hemkullek, who established themselves in the village around one hundred and fifty years ago. According to oral history, Hemkullek had a brother named Hemdûş who settled in the nearby village of Kefercenê, an area historically referred to as Serî Kaniyê. Over time, the Turkish government assigned various surnames to the Hemkullek lineage, resulting in branches like Topal Hemo, Domer, Înal, Mistefa, Xelîlbaş, Hebîb, and Osman. Other families in the village include El Kêcî. Distant relatives such as the Mistêko and Xelbaşo lineages eventually moved to Xirêbê Şera.

Geographically, the village sits near the beginning of Çiyayê Lêlûnê, a mountain range extending to the Cûmê plain. It shares borders with El Coz to the south and east, and Kefermezê and Meşaleyê to the west. A notable local landmark is Kaniya Kevan, meaning Spring of the Partridges, named because hunters historically gathered there to hunt the birds. Another unique feature is a wind powered water pump built over a local well in the early nineteen eighties by a skilled local blacksmith named Loqiyê.

Agriculturally, Me'reskê is famous for its cherry orchards. The first sour cherry tree was planted in nineteen hundred and seven. Thirty years ago, the village was highly renowned for cultivating specific watermelons known as emrîkî and zêbeşê bûk, but climate change and reduced rainfall prompted farmers to transition heavily to cherries. Villagers use the fruit to produce cherry wine, jam, and a regional dish called kebab keraz, originally influenced by recipes from Rîha and Heleb.

Culturally, Me'reskê is celebrated as a village of intellectuals. A primary school opened in nineteen sixty eight, followed by a new school built by UNICEF in nineteen eighty two. Villagers have been secretly teaching the Kurdish language since the nineteen sixties, utilizing the alphabet developed by Osman Sebrî and the poetry of Cegerxwîn. Today, the village has over one hundred university graduates.

During the recent conflict, the village faced intense attacks. In June two thousand and thirteen, extremist groups including Artêşa Azad, Cebhet el Nusra, and DAIŞ assaulted the area. The villagers chose not to flee. Instead, eighty percent of the women took up arms alongside the YPG and YPJ to defend their homes. Following intense fighting and the loss of four fighters, the attackers were repelled. The community honors its local martyrs Ebo, Sêwas, Amed, and Amanos, and the local commune is proudly named after Sêwas.