Mahmod Pasha Jaff

  Mohmood Pasha Jaff was born in 1262h and became leader of Jaff tribe after the death of his father in 1308h, with no interference by one state or the other. It seemed that he was qualified to play prominent role in the working of future maturing the Kurdish national consciousness, which its elements began appearing during the reign of Sultan Abdul Hameed.

 His influence and capability were indeed pointed out by Basil Nekitin that Mahmood Pasha had both the capacity and capability to assemble, within hours, four thousand fighters of his tribe ( Basil Nekitin : The  Kurds p.167-169);

Also what Merza Mohmood Khan mentioned in his memoirs ( Tareekh Mardokh,ed.2,p.230)that Mahmood Pasha was the head of five thousand armed family, and was subjected to neither the Ottoman or the Qajari authorities; and in what Haj Tawfeeq Peereh Mird description of his gallant, which made the ruler of Kirmanshah fuel and wood to Sherwana fortress and Kani Chaqal, where his quarters was (Zayan newspaper ed. 499, 1936).

 Both the Ottoman and the Iranian States were constantly cultivating the friendliness of Jaff tribe ( Al Akrad, Shakir Alkhasbaak, p.37) giving the strategic importance of this area. In this regard, Mahmood Pasha was in centre of that strategy, hence it was not strange that the title Khan was given to him by the Iranian state, and pasha by the Ottomans.

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 Mahmood Pasha was intelligent enough, and politically aware, not to be fooled by pomp titles and offered prominent positions, as he aspired to make his region self- supporting.According to the acclaimed Kurdish historian Mohamed Ameen Zeki Beg, Mohamod Pasha Jaff was accused of nationalistic tendency which, and therefore made the Ottoman state suspicious of his intentions.

Events proved Mahmood Pasha’s wariness and made the Jaff tribe under his leadership stand against the formation of AlHamedia Cavalries which created a state of anarchy and disturbance on the Iranian - Turkish border and worried both states for some time in addition to the continuous and mutual distrust between Mahmood Pasha and the Ottoman State ( Kesha E Kord, M. Lazaref, translated by D. Caws Qe Fetan, p. 118, 1989).

The Ottoman Government was wary of Mahmood Pasha’s influence in Kurdistan, and his adversaries who were unhesitant in sending reports, increasing the annoyance ever more of the government, seeking a suitable opportunity to removed from his position in Halabcha as well as the leadership of the tribe and to exprl him from the area.

 To achieve this goal, Commander Namiq Pasha was was commissioned by the Ottoman Government to proceed to Kurdistan to verify the reports. Mahmood Pasha received Namiq Pasha in cool manner, which infuriated and angered the latter of such dryness and lack of proper hospitality, and immediately turned away and went to Othman Pasha Aljaf’s house where he was met graciously and generous hospitality.

Upon his return to Istambol, Namiq Pasha compiled a vicious report on Mahmood Pasha accusing him of equating himself with Sultan Abdul Hameed, bearing bad intentions, and cooperating with the Sultan’s enemies, being anti security and stability, utelising his reception quarters as a center for all the Kurds enemies of the Sultan.

Mahmood Pasha Jaff on his way from Istanbul to Kurdistan of Iraq, disquised as a homeless person.

 As a result to this report, a declaration (firman) was issued in 1888-1889 by the Sultan appointing Othman Pasha Jaff first officer (qaiem’maqam) of Halabcha and leader of Jaff tribe.

To distance Mahmood Pasha from the area, another firman was issued appointing him Governor of Orfa ( Famous Kurds and Kurdistan, book 2, p.81) and bestowed on him the title of Beegler Beg, a title usually given to rulers of Admistrations ( Arabs and Kurds, Munther AlMoselli, p. 195), at a time when there were only four of them in Iraq at that time, namely Ahmed Pasha Baban, Abdul Qader Pasha AlDiarbekri, Mahmood Pasha Jaff, and Ibrahim Pasha who was in charge of Awquaf lands.( Awquaf is land belonging to the state.)

Mahmood Pasha Jaff declined this offer and for a long period refused to join the post. He aligned himself with Shaikh Abdulla AlNahri in the uprising of 1880. News of his activities reached the Ottoman Government, which had great fears of them.  Sultan Abdul Hameed took personal charge of the affaire and determined to eleminate him by any means, to put an end to his rebellion.

After their occupation of Iraq, the British adopted the policy of enticing tribes’ leaders of Iraq, and was made very clear in Kurdistan. The following incident is a clear  interpretation to this policy when Major Noel, the Political Governor in Sulaimania went to visit Mahmood Pasha Jaff in Zalem to ask for his help for the British forces.

 When Mahmood Pasha learnt of this, he refrained from greeting him, put his Ottoman Pasha uniform on, and remained in his tent waiting for the Major to arrive. When the Major saw him in that uniform, he gave him the military salute, refrained from sitting until was asked by the Pasha to do so. The following conversation took place:

“ Does Mahmood Pasha knows the purpose of this visit?”

“ I have no knowledge of  that, and wish to hear directly from you”, replied Mahmood Pasha.

Major Noel: “ The British Government intends to serve Kurdistan, bring pleasure to the Kurdish people, and save it from the cruelties of the Ottomans. The British Government wishes from prominent people and leaders like yourself to give your backing and help this endeavour . What is your reply?”

Mahmood Pasha replied : “ My answer is complete rejection, for the following reasons :

-    To start with, I have no strong belief in your intentions towards the Kurdish people, if your goals to serve the Kurds and save them from cruelties as you claim, rest assured, that even if I am not with you, there will be hundreds like me who will be willing to help you, and your efforts will undoubtedly be successful. The second reason being a Muslim, my religion  forbids me from cooperating with you against my brothers in religion.

-   The third reason is my old age, disability and incapability from taking actions.”

After this encounter, the British began to exert pressure on Mahmood Pasha, moving to make him powerless, and imposing heavy taxes on his people.  He could not face up to such conditions or take any action against them, because of dominance over the political situation in Iraqi Kurdistan, and his old age.

 He died in 1921 and buried in his mosque in Saedeia town.