Simko Shikak revolt refers to an armed Ottoman-backed tribal Kurdish uprising against the Qajar dynasty of Iran from 1918 – 1922 , led by Kurdish chieftain Simko Shikak from Turcophone Shekak tribe . This tribal rebellion is sometimes regarded as first major bid for establishing independent Kurdistan in Iran , but scholars see revolt as attempt by a powerful tribal chief to establish his personal authority vis-à-vis the central government throughout the region . Although elements of Kurdish nationalism were present in this movement , historians agree these were hardly articulate enough to justify a claim that recognition of Kurdish identity was a major issue in Simko 's movement , and he had to rely heavily on conventional tribal motives . It lacked any kind of administrative organization and Simko was primary interesting in plunder . Government forces and non-Kurds were not the only ones to suffer in the attacks , the Kurdish population was also robbed and assaulted . Simko 's men do not appear to have felt any sense of unity or solidarity with fellow Kurds . Historian Ervand Abrahamian calls Simko as " notorious " for allegedly massacring thousands Assyrians and supposedly " harassing " democrats , and Mehrdad Izady holds him responsible for killing Alevite Kurds . Still , Kurdish ethnicists today revere Simko as a hero of independence
massacring thousands Assyrians
Assyrian genocide
Kurdish separatism in Iran