Bedyal (also spelled Bediyal), a small village in the Mergasor District in the Erbil Governorate, is one of the oldest Christian settlements in the Barzan area. Its residents, all Christians, have lived in harmony with the predominantly Muslim communities of the area for centuries.

Nestled beneath Shreen Mountain, Bedyal offers striking landscapes and is home to two churches: a modern one built by the Kurdistan Regional Government in 2016 and the historic Mar Georgis (Saint George) Church, which has been a cornerstone of village life for generations.

The wider Soran area also has a significant Christian population, particularly in the Diyana subdistrict and in villages such as Hawdiyan, reflecting the region’s religious and cultural diversity.

Georges Yohenna, 86, a lifelong resident, said that the village’s origins remain unclear. “Our ancestors spoke of Bedyal’s long existence, but it’s true history has been lost to time,” he said, encouraging historians to work on shedding light on the village’s past.

Forced displacement and survival

Bedyal’s history includes notable periods of suffering and displacement. The displacement of Bedyal’s residents began in 1975, following the collapse of the Kurdish revolt, known as the Eylul Revolution, and continued into the late 1980s. Many were relocated to Diyana, Goratu, and other areas.

In one particularly cruel episode, Odisho Yohenna and Khoshaba Yohenna, two residents of Bedyal, were arrested in August 1983 and later buried alive in a desert in southern Iraq. Their only offense, according to villagers, was wearing the red turban, a symbol of the Barzani tribes.

During the Ba’ath regime’s genocidal campaigns against the Kurdish population and the Kurdish liberation movement between 1986 and 1988, many villagers were also forcibly removed from their homes.

Music, dance, and shared traditions

Despite its hardships, Bedyal remains a village of resilience and cultural unity. Its people maintain close ties with neighboring Muslim villages, including Kani Bot, Biye, and Bekhshash, celebrating religious and cultural occasions together, such as Christmas, Ramadan, and Eid al-Adha.

Community traditions are deeply rooted in music and dance. The shimshal, a traditional flute, plays a central role in burial ceremonies that are often performed by musicians like Mam Safat from Kani Bot and Benyamin from Bedyal. At weddings, villagers join in the halparke, a Kurdish dance, and exchange gifts with the newlyweds.