Jilu

Jilu is a mountainous district in the Turkish province of Hakkari.

By 1915 Jilu was still inhabited by Assyrian Christians. The Assyrian Christians in Hakkari lived in several tribes, each tribe lived in a separate area. The largest tribes in Hakkari were Tiari, Tkhuma, Diz, Valley, Baz and Jilu.

Of these Jilu was considered the wildest tribe that lived in the most remote region, the southern slopes of the Cilo Dagi, a 4125 meter high mountain. The tribal area comprised 17 villages. The most important of these were Mar Zeya, Zir, called Zirini, Nara, Nerik, Bebokra, Ommud, Talana.

Mar Zeya was the largest and most important village in Jilu. In Mar Zeya the church of St. Mar Zeya and the seat of the bishop of the Assyrian Church of the East in Jilu stood. The residents of Jilu were called Julwe.

Of the 40,000 people living in Hakkari Assyrians came alone from 5000 Jilu.

Known Jiluwayeh

• Albert Quryaqus - a founding member of " Concerned Members of Mar Zaya Church "
• Dr. Sargon Dadisho - Founder and President of AssyriaSat
• Mar Aprem Khamis - Bishop of Western United States.
• Mar Sargis Yousip - Bishop of the Assyrian Church in Baghdad, Iraq
• Mar Meelis Zaya - Bishop Assyrian Church in Australia and New Zealand.
• John Kanno - candidate for U.S. Congress
• David Adamov - Vice President of the Assyrian International Congress of Georgia