For centuries the city has had a diverse population including Muslims Shiah and Sunny, ChrisÂÂtian (Catholic, Prostentant, Nestorians, and Orthodox), Jews, Baha’is and Sufi.
During the 19th century, the region became the center of a short lived Assyrians RenesÂÂsaince with many books and newspaper being published in Syriac. The better armed AssyrÂÂians managed however to capÂÂture the whole city following a brief battle. The region descendÂÂed into chaos again after the asÂÂsassination of the Assyrian PatriÂÂarch Shimum XXI, Benyamin at the hands of Simko Shikak one month later.
Turkish armies and Simko managed the city in June and July 1918. Thousands of AssyrÂÂians were massacred as part of the Assyrian Genocide, other found refuge under British proÂÂtection in Iraq.
