Amuda#civilwar

{{Multiple image|align=left|direction=vertical|image1=Shermola.png|image2=Tell amuda kemaleya.jpg|caption1=Tell Shermola|caption2=Tell Amuda (Kemaliya)}}

There are two tells in the area; one inside Amuda itself, and the other on the Turkish side of the border, three kilometers north of the city.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=npptAAAAMAAJ|title=Mozan|author=Giorgio Buccellati, Marilyn Kelly-Buccellati|page= 89|year= 1988|isbn=9780890031940}} In older and some modern literature, the tell inside Amuda is named Tell Amuda, but for locals its name is Tell Shermola, while the tell on the Turkish side is the real Tell Amuda, which had its name changed by the Turkish authorities to Tell Kemaliya.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=npptAAAAMAAJ|title=Mozan|author=Giorgio Buccellati, Marilyn Kelly-Buccellati|page= 36|year= 1988|isbn=9780890031940}}

Tell Shermola revealed evidence for a limited occupation dating to the third millennium BC.

Archaeological evidence from Shermola dating to the middle Assyrian period reveal that the city was inhabited by Assyrians as early as the reign of Shalmaneser I (1250 BC).{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fM3mBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA73|title=The Archaeology of Political Spaces: The Upper Mesopotamian Piedmont in the Second Millennium BCE|author=Dominik Bonatz|page= 73|year= 2014|isbn=9783110266405}}

Shermola is identified by Elisabeth Wagner-Durand and Jeanne-Marie Aynard with the Assyrian city of Kulishinas (Kulišinaš).{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=npptAAAAMAAJ|title=Mozan|author=Giorgio Buccellati, Marilyn Kelly-Buccellati|page= 35|year= 1988|isbn=9780890031940}}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rrMKKtiBBI4C&pg=PA39|title=The Aramaeans: Their Ancient History, Culture, Religion|author=Edward Lipiński|page= 39|year= 2000|isbn=9789042908598}}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d59tAAAAMAAJ|title=The Land of Assur & the Yoke of Assur: Studies on Assyria, 1971-2005|author=J. N. Postgate|page= 126|year= 2007|isbn=9781842172162}} This identification is based on tablets written in Kulishinas discovered and sold to museums by a dealer who claimed that they were taken from Shermola; hence, the identification is not certain, although Shermola being a Middle Assyrian city is confirmed by archaeology.{{cite book|chapter-url=https://www.academia.edu/1755695|chapter=Local Power in the Middle Assyrian Period: The "Kings of the Land of Māri" in the Middle Habur Region|author=Daisuke Shibata|editor= Gernot Wilhelm|title= Organization, Representation, and Symbols of Power in the Ancient Near East: Proceedings of the 54th Rencontre Assyriologique Internationale at Würzburg, 20-25 July 2008|page= 496|publisher= Eisenbrauns|year= 2012}}

The demographics of this area saw a huge shift in the early part of the 20th century. Some Kurdish tribes cooperated with Ottoman authorities in the genocide against Armenian and Assyrian Christians in Upper Mesopotamia. Kurdish tribes attacked and sacked Assyrian and Armenian villages in Albaq District immediately to the north of Hakkari mountains, killing large numbers of villagers.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LSzuzsRh37gC&pg=PA25|title=The Tragedy of the Assyrians|author= R. S. Stafford|year=2006|pages=24–25|isbn=9781593334130}}{{Cite book |last=Hovannisian |first=Richard G. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K3monyE4CVQC&pg=PA271 |title=The Armenian Genocide: Cultural and Ethical Legacies |date=2011-12-31 |publisher=Transaction Publishers |isbn=978-1-4128-3592-3 |language=en}}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UM3BMtn6TmcC&pg=PA199 |title=On the Margins of Nations: Endangered Languages and Linguistic Rights|author= Joan A. Argenter, R. McKenna Brown|page= 199|year= 2004|isbn=9780953824861}}Lazar, David William, not dated. [http://www.americanmesopotamian.org/uploads/66603/A_brief_history_of_the_plight_of_the_Christian_Assyrians_in_modern_day_Iraq.pdf A brief history of the plight of the Christian Assyrians* in modern day Iraq] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150417082428/http://www.americanmesopotamian.org/uploads/66603/A_brief_history_of_the_plight_of_the_Christian_Assyrians_in_modern_day_Iraq.pdf |date=17 April 2015 }} American Mespopotamian. Before the genocide in 1915, the Kaza of Ras-ul-ain, which included Amuda, was made up entirely of total 16.000 Sunni Muslims.Vital Cuinet, "La Turquie D'Asie: Géographie Administrative Statisque Descriptive Et Raisonnée De Chaque Province De L'Asie Mineure". Some Christians settled the city after the genocide. In 1936, French forces bombarded Amuda (Tusha Amudi). On 13 August 1937, in a revenge attack, about 500 Kurds from the Dakkuri, Milan, and Kiki tribes attacked the Christians. The Christian population, about 300 families, fled to the towns of Qamishli and Hasakah.Jordi Tejel, "Syria's Kurds: History, Politics and Society", footnote 57.{{cite book|last1=Watenpaugh|first1=Keith David|title=Being Modern in the Middle East: Revolution, Nationalism, Colonialism, and the Arab Middle Class|date=2014|publisher=Princeton University Press|isbn=978-1400866663|page=270|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-Zw8BQAAQBAJ}}John Joseph, "Muslim-Christian Relations and Inter-Christian Rivalries in the Middle East", p107.Saqr Abu Fakhr in As-Safir, Abu Fakhr, Saqr, 2013. As-Safir daily Newspaper, Beirut. [http://assafir.com/Article/331189#.UrbZIuK_guh in Arabic] [http://araborthodoxy.blogspot.ca/2013/12/as-safir-on-history-of-persecution-of.html Christian Decline in the Middle East: A Historical View] In 1941, the Assyrian community of al-Malikiyah was subjected to a vicious assault by Kurds. Even though the assault failed, Assyrians were terrorized and left in large numbers, and the immigration of Kurds from Turkey to the area have resulted in a Kurdish majority in Amuda, al-Malikiyah, and al-Darbasiyah.Abu Fakhr, Saqr, 2013. As-Safir daily Newspaper, Beirut. [http://assafir.com/Article/331189#.UrbZIuK_guh in Arabic] [http://araborthodoxy.blogspot.ca/2013/12/as-safir-on-history-of-persecution-of.html Christian Decline in the Middle East: A Historical View]{{cite web

|website=amphibianark.org|url=http://www.aina.org/reports/utrmcfsi.pdf|title=Understanding recent movements of Christians from Syria and Iraq to other countries across the Middle East and Europe|access-date=1 July 2023}}

On 13 November 1960, after nearly 500 Kurdish students were taken to the cinema forcely, a fire was set in the cinema by the state agents and 283 students died in Amouda cinema.[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2XseAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-ckEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4945,2570306&dq=amude&hl=en "Children Die in Movie House Fire"], Daytona Beach Morning Journal, 15 November 1960, p4 There is a park in Amuda that commemorates the event.{{cite news |last=Rubin |first=Michael |author-link=Michael Rubin (historian) |date=13 February 2014 |title=The U.S. Gets the Kurds Wrong — Again |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303942404579362613070868196 |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |access-date=12 August 2015 }}

On 12 March 2004, an anti-government uprising took place in the city. As of 2004, Amuda is the fourth largest town in Al-Hasakah governorate.{{cite web|url=http://www.cbssyr.org/General%20census/census%202004/pop-man.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2013-11-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130310211017/http://www.cbssyr.org/General%20census/census%202004/pop-man.pdf |archive-date=2013-03-10 }}

In July 2017 the 90-year old Mor Elias Church was restored and reopened in the city. As of 2017 only one Assyrian family remains in Amuda.{{Cite web |url=http://en.hawarnews.com/in-a-sign-of-standing-religions-together-a-church-reopened/ |title=In a sign of standing religions together, a church reopened | ANHA |access-date=23 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170823203418/http://en.hawarnews.com/in-a-sign-of-standing-religions-together-a-church-reopened/ |archive-date=23 August 2017 |url-status=dead }}

File:Demonstration in Amuda against the Syrian government.png

With the dawn of the civil war, the rule of the Bashar al-Assad government ended in much of Northern Syria. Free Syrian Army fighters were briefly seen in the town{{cite news |last=Hughs |first=Chris |date=20 July 2012 |title="The regime is going through its last days": Fierce clashes in the battle for Damascus as Assad denies he's fleeing to Russia |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/syria-civil-war-fierce-clashes-1152131 |newspaper=Daily Mirror |access-date=12 August 2015 }} during the July 2012 withdrawal of government troops from the area, but by 21 July 2012 the YPG established control.{{cite news |author= |date=21 July 2012 |title=Clashes between Kurds and Syrian army in the Kurdish city of Qamişlo, Western Kurdistan |url=http://www.ekurd.net/mismas/articles/misc2012/7/syriakurd542.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241203072001/https://www.ekurd.net/mismas/articles/misc2012/7/syriakurd542.htm |archive-date=3 December 2024 |access-date=12 August 2015 |newspaper=Ekurd Daily}} The early days of Democratic Union Party (PYD) influence in Amuda was not without conflict – in June 2013, clashes took place.{{cite news |author= |title=Kurdish militia kills three protesters in Syria town: activists |url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2013/Jun-28/221903-kurdish-militia-kills-three-protesters-in-syria-town-activists.ashx |newspaper=The Daily Star |agency=Agence France-Presse |date=28 June 2013 |access-date=12 August 2015}} Opponents of the PYD stated that fighters had opened fire on protesters following tensions with pro-Free Syrian Army youth committees and rivalling Kurdish groups. The PYD on the other hand stated it had been attacked by a mercenary gang.{{cite news |last=Glioti |first=Andrea |date=1 July 2013 |title=Syrian Kurdish Group Linked to PKK Kills Protesters |url=http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/07/syria-kurds-pyd-amuda-protest.html# |newspaper=Al-Monitor |access-date=12 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150716101440/http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/07/syria-kurds-pyd-amuda-protest.html |archive-date=16 July 2015 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }} Due to the onslaught of "Islamic State" fighters, thousands of refugees have moved towards Amuda.{{cite news |last1=Westall |first1=Sylvia |last2=Perry |first2=Tom |date=27 June 2015 |title=Islamic State kills at least 145 civilians in Syria's Kobani |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/mideast-crisis-syria-idUSKBN0P60UI20150627 |newspaper=Reuters |access-date=12 August 2015 }}

Following the Rojava Revolution, the first meeting of the Democratic Autonomous Administration of the Jazira Canton was held in Amuda following its 21 January 2014 declaration. Qamishli was declared as the Canton's de jure capital, with Amuda acting as such for the time being. The meeting was held at the Hurî Culture and Art Centre, and was attended by the assembly president Ekrem Hiso, his two Arab and Assyrian deputies, and 22 ministers.{{cite web|url=http://www.ekurd.net/mismas/articles/misc2014/1/syriakurd1028.htm|title=Al-Qamishli to be capital city of Jazeera Canton in Syrian Kurdistan|work=Firat News|date=26 January 2014}} In July 2014 two new co-mayors were elected for the Canton, by a council gathered in Amuda. Those elected were Hamedi Daham (a sheikh of the Arab Shammar tribe) and Hadiya Yousif (former head of the Women's Protection Units, YPJ).{{cite news |author= |title=Kurdish Canton in Syria led by an Arab Sheikh |url=http://www.basnews.com/en/news/2014/07/10/kurdish-canton-in-syria-led-by-an-arab-sheikh/ |newspaper=Bas News |date=10 July 2014 |access-date=12 August 2015 }} In November 2014 Bernard Kouchner, former foreign minister of France and co-founder of the Médecins Sans Frontières, visited Amuda and met with local senior officials.{{cite news |last=Aumri |first=Masud |title=Former French Foreign Minister Advises Rojava to Get Closer to KRG |url=http://www.basnews.com/en/news/2014/11/29/former-french-foreign-minister-advises-rojava-to-get-closer-to-krg/ |newspaper=Bas News |date=29 November 2014 |access-date=12 August 2015 }}

Following the Second Northern Syria Buffer Zone agreement, SDF fighters withdrew from the city, leaving it under the military control of the Syrian Army.

The end of government rule in July 2012 has resulted in a rejuvenation in Kurdish culture in Amuda. Following the departure of the Syrian Army, Kurdish flags could again be sold in its markets, and a large demand for traditional Kurdish clothing likewise appeared. While the town was still under government control, a Kurdish language center was opened in 2011, working under threat. Since the arrival of the YPG the center can operate safely, resulting in an overflow of students. In late 2012 Ronahi TV was founded, the only Syrian television channel that broadcasts in Kurdish (Kurmanji). It has 50 employees, some of them Arabs, presenting "more than 25 political, cultural, and social programs in Kurdish and Arabic".{{cite news |author= |title=Long taboo, Kurdish culture sees renaissance in Syria |url=http://www.straitstimes.com/world/middle-east/long-taboo-kurdish-culture-sees-renaissance-in-syria |newspaper=The Straits Times |agency=Agence France-Presse |date=12 August 2015 |access-date=12 August 2015}}

In August 2015 a Swedish activist group from Malmö (Allt åt Alla) launched the "Rojava Electricity Project", a crowdfunding campaign on the site Indiegogo, to raise money for Amuda. The goal is to, in the span of 23 days, collect $23,000 to help repair the town's Swedish-made generators.{{cite news |author= |date=12 August 2015 |title=De vill hjälpa Rojova med elförsörjning |url=http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=2842&artikel=6230703 |newspaper=Sveriges Radio |language=sv |access-date=12 August 2015 }} An electricity crisis is growing in Rojava, and according to the local economic committee three of Amuda's five generators are not functioning. Once the generators have been fixed using the funds procured through the campaign, the estimate is that 1320 kW will be generated, and that 800 households that are currently cut off will receive 10 hours of electricity a day.{{cite news |last=McKernan |first=Bethan |date=11 August 2015 |title=There's a peaceful region in the middle of Isis territory and it's running out of electricity |url=http://i100.independent.co.uk/article/theres-a-peaceful-region-in-the-middle-of-isis-territory-and-its-running-out-of-electricity--bJB06DzQEx |newspaper=The Independent |access-date=12 August 2015 |archive-date=13 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150813182051/http://i100.independent.co.uk/article/theres-a-peaceful-region-in-the-middle-of-isis-territory-and-its-running-out-of-electricity--bJB06DzQEx |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |last=Andersson |first=Nicklas |date=8 August 2015 |title=Deras projekt kan hjälpa hundratusentals ISIS-offer i Rojava |url=http://aktuelltfokus.se/deras-projekt-kan-hjalpa-hundratusentals-isis-offer-i-rojava/ |newspaper=Aktuellt Fokus |language=sv |access-date=12 August 2015 }}

In 2004 the population was 26,821, 95% of the inhabitants of Amuda are ethnic Kurds, with a minority of Arabs and Assyrians.{{cite news|last=Baladi|first=Enab|date=14 August 2016|title=Arabs, Kurds, and the social ties that overcome political conflicts|newspaper=Enab Baladi English|url=http://english.enabbaladi.net/archives/2016/08/arabs-kurds-social-ties-overcome-political-conflicts-2/|access-date=12 September 2016}}

• Syriac Orthodox Church of Saint Elias (كنيسة مار إلياس الحي للسريان الأرثوذكس){{Cite web | url=http://radio.artamedia.org/video/6065 | title=دور آرتا إف إم في إعادة افتتاح كنيسة مار الياس الحي في عامودا | Arta Fm }}{{cite web | url=https://www.welat.fm/ar/إعادة-افتتاح-كنيسة-مار-إلياس-الحيّ-في-ع/ | title=إعادة افتتاح كنيسة مار إلياس الحيّ في عامودا }}
• Syriac Catholic Church of Saint John the Baptist (كنيسة القديس مار يوحنا المعمدان للسريان الكاثوليك)

• Abdulbaset Sieda, politician
• Haitham Hussein, Syrian Kurd novelist, critique writer, and reviewer
• Mahmoud Dahoud, Syrian footballer
• Helîm Yûsiv, Syrian Kurdish writer and lawyer
• Ahmad Chikh Mousa, Syrian kurdish kickboxer at Glory Kickboxing

• Amouda cinema

{{reflist}}

{{Al-Hasakah Governorate|qamishli}}

Category:Assyrian communities in Syria

Category:Kurdish communities in Syria

Category:Populated places in Qamishli District

Category:Towns in Syria