Amar Khan Sharifi (, ; 1873 – 1958 in Zindasht,

West Azerbaijan West Azerbaijan province () is one of the 31 provinces of Iran, provinces of Iran, whose capital and largest city is Urmia. It is in the Azerbaijan (Iran), northwest of the country, bordered by Turkey (Ağrı Province, Ağrı, Hakkâri Pr ...

, Iran), better known as Amar Khan Shikak () was a prominent

Kurdish Kurdish may refer to: *Kurds or Kurdish people *Kurdish language ** Northern Kurdish (Kurmanji) **Central Kurdish (Sorani) **Southern Kurdish ** Laki Kurdish *Kurdish alphabets *Kurdistan, the land of the Kurdish people which includes: **Southern ...

tribal leader from the Shekak tribe. He was the son of Mohammad Sharif Sharifi and played a significant role in the leadership of the Kardar and Shekak tribes following his father's death. Based on local accounts, Amar Khan was reported to be Simko's uncle, although others believed that he was Simko's cousin. During the early 20th century, the Shekak tribe gained influence under the leadership of

Simko Shikak Ismail Agha Shikak (, ), also known as Simko (, ; 1887–1930), was a Kurds, Kurdish chieftain of the Shekak (tribe), Shekak tribe. He was a nationalist warlord who controlled significant land and led thousands of Kurdish rebels who defeated th ...

, especially after receiving support from the

Russian Empire The Russian Empire was an empire that spanned most of northern Eurasia from its establishment in November 1721 until the proclamation of the Russian Republic in September 1917. At its height in the late 19th century, it covered about , roughl ...

. Amar Khan became Simko's chief aide among the Shekaks during this period. After Simko's assassination, he assumed the leadership of the Shekak tribe. Amar Khan later aligned with

Qazi Muhammad Qazi Muhammad (, ; 1 May 1893 – 31 March 1947) was an Iranian Kurdish Islamic cleric and political leader who founded the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI) and was the first president of the short-lived, Soviet-backed, though in ...

and the

Republic of Mahabad The Republic of Mahabad, also referred to as the Republic of Kurdistan (; ), was a short-lived Kurdish self-governing unrecognized state in present-day Iran, from 22 January to 15 December 1946. The Republic of Mahabad, a puppet state of the ...

Career

Amar Khan served as the paramount chieftain of the Shikak tribe and was a notable figure in Iranian Kurdistan. He reportedly made a strong impression on American observers, including

Kermit Roosevelt Kermit Roosevelt Sr. Military Cross, MC (October 10, 1889 – June 4, 1943) was an American businessman, soldier, explorer, and writer. A son of Theodore Roosevelt, the List of Presidents of the United States, 26th President of the United State ...

, who described him as 'the grand old man of Kurdistan', and

William O. Douglas William Orville Douglas (October 16, 1898January 19, 1980) was an American jurist who served as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1939 to 1975. Douglas was known for his strong progressive and civil libertari ...

, who visited him after the fall of Mahabad. Despite his high-ranking position within the Mahabad Republic, some historians have characterized his actions as opportunistic. He was appointed Minister of War and held the rank of ''

Marshal Marshal is a term used in several official titles in various branches of society. As marshals became trusted members of the courts of Middle Ages, Medieval Europe, the title grew in reputation. During the last few centuries, it has been used fo ...

'' in the republic. In addition, he was a member of the central committee of the

Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan The Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI; , HDKA; ), also known as the Kurdish Democratic Party of Iran (KDPI), is an armed leftist separatist movement of Kurds, exiled in northern Iraq with branch offices in Europe. It is banned in Ira ...

and a signatory of the Azerbaijani–Kurdish Treaty on April 23, 1946. During his time in the Mahabad, he reportedly maintained communication with George V. Allen, the American ambassador to Iran. Following the fall of Mahabad, it was through Allen's intervention that Amar Khan avoided execution by

Iranian government The Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran (), known simply as ''Nezam'' (), is the ruling State (polity), state and current political system in Iran, in power since the Iranian Revolution and fall of the Pahlavi dynasty in 1979. Its Const ...

Military role

Amar Khan was known for his military expertise and strategic skill. His forces participated in multiple military operations under the Mahabad government. As the regime approached collapse, he withdrew his support and returned to his home in Zindasht.

References

Sources

* * * {{Cite book , last=Qadri , first=Muhammed S. , url=https://www.kurdipedia.org/files/books/2021/394603.PDF?ver=132688616600000000 , title=Emer Xanî Şikak: Le Serhelldanî Simkowe ta Komarî Kurdistan , date=2021 , publisher=

Kurdish Academy The Kurdish Academy () is an institution mandated by the Kurdistan Regional Government, dealing with all issues related to the Kurdish language within Iraqi Kurdistan Iraqi Kurdistan or Southern Kurdistan () refers to the Kurds, Kurdish-pop ...

, location=

Tehran Tehran (; , ''Tehrân'') is the capital and largest city of Iran. It is the capital of Tehran province, and the administrative center for Tehran County and its Central District (Tehran County), Central District. With a population of around 9. ...

, Iran , language=ku , trans-title=Amar Khan Shikak: from the rise of Simko to the Kurdistan Republic People from Urmia 1873 births 1958 deaths 20th-century Kurdish people Iranian Kurdish politicians Kurdish rebels

Career

Military role

See also

References

Sources