Parçikan () is a Kurdish tribe residing mainly in Elazığ Province in Turkey. The tribe numbers around 20,000 members and are predominantly Sunni Muslims. The tribe is transhumant nomadic.
History The tribe lived around Azerbaijan and Iran before migrating westward after the Mongol invasion and settled around Baskil which during the period of the governance of Aq Qoyunlu, Safavid Iran and the Ottoman Empire went under the name of Hersini.
In the 17th century, Hersini was densely populated by Kurdish tribes, including Parçikan but also the Zeyve and Herdi tribes. Due to the heavy tax obligations in the Sanjak of Harput, some members of the tribe dispersed to surrounding areas. In addition, some tribe members were forcefully settled in various places in Anatolia.
According to tribe leader Dursun Demez, the Ottomans handed over the Sarıçiçek Plateau in Kemaliye district to his tribe in 1245 by an edict, allowing the tribe to use the land for nomadic pastoralism. In 2019, the tribe pushed for state recognition to make the plateau Parçikan land.
In 1921, the tribe expressed its support for the Koçgiri rebellion after Nuri Dersimi approached the tribe for support. As the rebellion grew, Parçikan Kurds ultimately joined in. Tribal leaders also supported the 2010 Turkish constitutional referendum put forward by AKP.
Geography The Parçikan tribe lives in the following towns and villages:
In Elazığ Province Akçakale, center district Aladikme village, Baskil Alatarla village, center district Altınkürek village, Keban Bulutlu village, center district Çalıca village, center district Çavuşlu village, Baskil Demirlibahçe village, Baskil Düğüntepe village, Baskil Eskiköy village, Baskil Gözpınar village, center district Günbağı village, Keban Habibuşağı village, Baskil Harabekayış village, Baskil Işıkyolu village, center district Karaali village, Baskil Karaali village, center district Karagedik village, Baskil Koçharmanı village, center district Koparuşağı village, center district Kurşunkaya village, Keban Kutlugün village, Baskil Meydancık village, Baskil Ortaçalı village, center district Sakabaşı village, center district Şahaplı village, Baskil Sarıtaş village, Baskil Taşkesen village, Keban Tatlıpayam village, Baskil Topaluşağı village, Baskil Yalındamlar village, center district Yolçatı village, center district
Other settlements Parçikan village (formerly named Bozburun), Arguvan, Malatya Province
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