Mahmud Barzanji - Power and Revolts

Power and Revolts

Sheikh Mahmud Barzanji was a very ambitious Kurdish national leader and promoted the idea of Kurds to control their own state and gain independence from the British. As Charles Tripp relates, The British appointed him governor of Sulaimaniah in southern Kurdistan as a way of gaining an indirect rule in this region. The British wanted this indirect rule with the popular Mahmud at the helm which they believed would give them a face and a leader to control and calm the region. However with a little taste of power, Mahmud had ambitions for more, not only for himself, but for the Kurdish people. He declared himself the "King of Kurdistan" and claimed to be the ruler of all Kurds. Yet the opinion of Mahmud among Kurds was mixed because he was becoming too powerful and ambitious for some. Mahmud hoped to create Kurdistan and initially the British allowed Mahmud to pursue has ambitions because he was bringing the region and people together for the British to control. However, by 1920, Mahmud, to British displeasure, was using his power against the British by capturing British officials in the Kurd region and starting uprisings against the British. As historian Kevin McKierman writes, "The rebellion lasted until Mahmud was wounded in combat, which occurred on the road between Kirkuk and Sulaimaniah. Captured by Crown forces, he was sentenced to death but later imprisoned in a British fort in India." Sheikh remained in India until 1922.