Ali Battê II holds a picture of Ali Battê I, and the Syriac legend Shamoun Hanne Haydo.
In the beginning of the summer I lost my grandfather and it felt like a part of my roots disappeared from this plane. So many histories and adventures I didn’t get to listen to and remember.
Born and raised here in Sweden far away from him and our history it has not always been easy to stay connected with my roots. But then I realized how many of those magical story times I actually got to experience and get to cherish and pass on. Like the ones about his grandfather Ali Batte after who he was named after, a just fighter, a hero.
Ali Batte with his close friend Shamoun Hanne Haydo, a prominent Syriac leader, and a few more Kurdish aghas were key figures in the resistance against the ottomans (sadly joined by some other Kurdish tribes who betrayed their syriac friends) in their campaign for genocide of the syriac population, which came to be called Seyfo. In the end my grandfathers grandfather sadly was captured and executed by the ottomans, but not before standing up for his fellow kurds and saving countless syriacs from the horrific events of Seyfo together with his friend Shamoun.
Image from an interview on the TV-channel TRT Kurdi
My grandfather was endlessly proud to be his grandson and to pass on his name. I truly hope he knows how proud I am to be his grandson. Throughout his life my grandfather was the voice of those who couldn’t speak for themselves and would never turn a blind eye to injustice. Just but never cold, his heart warm and full of love. He truly lived up to his name.
You loved to live, and what a beautiful life you lived despite any obstacles that came your way. A true source of inspiration.
