Haweri

Haweri (or in Kurdish "Hewêrî") is a large 800 year old Yezidi tribe in northen Iraq, and apart of the Xorkan  confederacy. They live mostly in the Derabun region, a village near Zakho, as well as Khanke. The Haweris are followers of Sheikh Mend, an important and holy  figure in Yezidism, that lived in the 12th century.  

 Legend 
The name "Haweri" is a Kurdish word and composition of 2 syllables "Haw" or "Hew" which means "no longer" and "weri" which means "dared". This has a historicl meaning. According to legends, Sheikh Mend was send by Sheikh Adi to save the Haweris from abandoning their Religion. The Haweris did not agree with a decicion that the Yezidi Mir did during that time, so they distanced themselves from the others to abandon their Religion. As Sheikh Mend arrived, he turned into a big black Snake and cut the way of the Haweris right before the Hasana canyon. He stayed with them for 7 Years preventing the Haweris from conversion and then made his way back to the Lalish Temple.

 History 
The Haweris exist since Sheikh mend, who lived during the 12th Century. Notable people like Hesine Haweri also played an important role amongst the Haweri tribe. Hesine Haweri defended the Haweris and other Yezidis in the Zakho region, specifically in Derabun, during Mir Muhammeds campaings against the Yezidis. They originally lived in the Silopi Region, but then migrated to Iraq, where they now live in for example Derabun or Khanke.

 Subtribes 
Haweris are one big tribe, with 7 subtribes or in Kurdish "Heft babê êşîra", which means "seven Tribefathers":

Bilêska
Îska
Şahavga
Beiyrga
Daloga
Taalga
Îsaiya

 References 

Category:Tribes
Category:Yezidi