Al-Malikiyah

Etymology

There are two theories on the local Syriac and Kurdish name of the city. The first theory is that the city is named after an ancient monastery ('dayr' in Syriac) located in its vicinity, while the second one argues that the name "Dêrik" stems from the Kurdish word du rek meaning 'two roads'. In 1957, the town was named "Al-Malikiyah", after a Syrian army officer Adnan al-Malki. In 1977, a decree was issued to ban all non-Arabic place names. Therefore the Kurdish and Syriac-Aramaic names were banned from being used.

History

The city is located in the middle of Hesinyan plain between the Tigris and Safan rivers. The region was controlled by the Kurdish Bohtan principality until 1848 and inhabited mostly by the Kurdish Hesinyan tribe, gaving the plain its name. Before attaining the size of a city, Derik village was given by the prince Bedirkhan Botani to Hemko Hesinî, who was a military leader for Botan principality in its last years, hence the city has its alternative name: Dêrka Hemko.

After World War I, the French enlisted help from the Kurdish Milli tribe to control the whole region east of Euphrates river up to the Tigris. The French chose the village of Ayn Dywar as the center for the region, but in 1927 they moved the administrative center to Derik. And since then the village developed into a city .

, Al-Malikiyah is the fifth largest city in Al-Hasakah governorate.

Syrian Civil War

As a result of the ongoing civil war, Al-Malikiyah is currently controlled by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES). On 21 July 2012, the ethnic Kurdish People's Defense Units (YPG) reportedly captured Al-Malikiyah, which is located just 10 kilometers from the Turkish border, although another report stated that fighting was still going on in the city. On 22 July, it was reported that YPG forces were still fighting for Al-Malikiyah, and one young Kurdish activist was killed after Pro-Assad government forces allegedly opened fire on protesters. In November 2012, government forces withdrew from the city.

Kurdish-led authorities subsequently installed the "Dêrik prison" for captured Islamic State members in al-Malikiyah. In April 2019, the prison was the site of a major prison escape attempt by about 200 ISIL detainees, including several French jihadists. The breakout was foiled, however, and some prisoners were distributed to other detention centers.

In May 2020, reports emerged that Russia had begun building a new military base in Qeser Dib, a village outside of al-Malikiyah. In 2021, the United States Army constructed a Forward operating base 3.8 kilometers south of the city. The base is operated by United States Special Forces and a Combat Action Team, who routinely conduct patrols near the city in Bradley Fighting Vehicles.

On 2 February 2022, four civilians were killed after an armed Turkish drone bombed a power station near the city.

Demographics

|1981|13225 |1994||2004|26,311 |

The population consists mostly of ethnic Kurds and Assyrians in addition to a small minority of Armenians. The northern half of the town is mainly inhabited by Muslim Kurds, and the southern part by Syriac Christians. As the economic center of the district, the town is usually filled with people from the surrounding villages and towns, especially during the morning hours. Al-Malikiyah has seen a dramatic urban expansion and real estate development in recent years which led to many streets being extended to new neighborhoods that are now part of the continually growing town.

As of November 2014, only 200 ethnic Armenians remain in the city out of a pre-civil war figure of 450.

Churches in the city

• Syriac Orthodox Church of Our Lady (كنيسة السيدة العذراء للسريان الأرثوذكس)
• Syriac Orthodox Church of Saint Shmouni (كنيسة القديسة مارت شموني للسريان الارثوذكس)
• Syriac Orthodox Church of Saint Dodo (كنيسة القديس مار دودو للسريان الارثوذكس)
• Syriac Orthodox Mazar (mausoleum) of Saint Jacob of Nisibis (مزار القديس مار يعقوب النصيبيني للسريان الارثوذكس)
• Chaldean Catholic Church of Saint George (كنيسة مار جرجس للكلدان الكاثوليك)
• Armenian Orthodox Church of Our Lady (كنيسة السيدة العــذراء للأرمن الأرثوذكس)
• National Evangelical Presbyterian Church (الكنيسة الإنجيلية المشيخية الوطنية)
• Jesus The Light of the World National Evangelical Church (كنيسة الاتحاد المسيحي يسوع نور العالم)

Notable people

• Jarjis Danho
• Hevrin Khalaf
• Faia Younan
• Sherwan Haji
• Bahoz Erdal

Gallery

File:Syriac Orthodox church in Al-Malikiyah, Syria.jpg|New Syriac Orthodox Church on Main street File:Dome of Syriac Orthodox Church in Derik (al-Malikiyah).jpg|New Church dome File:Chaldean church.JPG|Chaldean Catholic Church File:Chaldean church school.JPG|Chaldean Catholic Church and School Building File:Dereek looking east.JPG|Looking east

References

References

1. (21 January 2020). "سوريا.. توتر بين موسكو وواشنطن في القامشلي". Al Arabiya.
2. (2 March 2017). "Li Dêrikê kurd, ereb û xirîstiyan bi hev re dijîn". Rûdaw.
3. "AuroraReach".
4. "A light on Derik s history and churches".
5. Gunter, Michael. (2014). "Out of Nowhere: The Kurds of Syria in Peace and War". Hurst.
6. (24 March 2020). "The 63th anniversary of the Arabization of Derik's name to Malikiya-ARK NEWS".
7. (2013-12-19). "صقر ابو فخر | التراجع المسيحي في الشرق: مشهد تاريخي :: | جريدة السفير".
8. "City of Derik taken by Kurds in Northeast Syria". En.firatnews.com.
9. (22 July 2012). "Ban: Syrian regime 'failed to protect civilians'". CNN.
10. "Armed Kurds Surround Syrian Security Forces in Qamishli". Rudaw.net.
11. Georges Brenier. (11 April 2019). "INFO TF1/LCI - Syrie : des cadres français de Daech impliqués dans une mutinerie". LCI.
12. (28 May 2020). "Russian military in NE Syria: Russia establishes new military base Al-Malikiyah (Dayrik)".
13. (April 10, 2021). "US forces patrol in Syria's Derik countryside".
14. (April 20, 2021). "American forces conduct patrol in Syria's Derik countryside". North Press Agency.
15. (February 16, 2021). "Anti-Daesh coalition to set up military base along Turkish-Syrian border".
16. (21 February 2021). "Americans, Russians compete for Kurdish support in northeast Syrian border area".
17. (2 February 2022). "Turkish offensive : Four people killed amid Turkish airstrikes on power station near Al-Malikiyah (Dayrek)". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
18. "Demoralized, Syrian refugees return home | Middle East | DW.COM | 17.11.2014".
19. "كنائس المالكية".