In 1914, Mzīzāḥ (today called Doğançay) was inhabited by 350 Assyrians, according to the list presented to the Paris Peace Conference by the Assyro-Chaldean delegation.[8] They adhered to the Syriac Orthodox Church.[9] Amidst the Sayfo, the Assyrians of Mzīzāḥ fled with their possessions in July 1915 upon hearing of the attack on Midyat to ‘Ayn-Wardo, where they subsequently came under siege.[10] Mas’ud Shabo from the Musa Gebro family of Mzīzāḥ was chosen to lead the defence of ‘Ayn-Wardo.[10] Those who attempted to return Mzīzāḥ after a ceasefire had been agreed were shot.[11] The Assyrians were able to return to the village with the aid of Çelebi Ağa after his release from prison following the end of the First World War.[12]
The first Turkish primary school was founded at Mzīzāḥ in 1953.[13] In 1960, the population was 927.[4] There were 724 Turoyo-speaking Christians in 100 families at Mzīzāḥ in 1966 and were served by one priest.[4] By 1980, the village was inhabited by 150 families, half of whom were Assyrian whilst the other half was Kurdish.[13] In the late 20th century, a number of Assyrians emigrated abroad to Germany.[14] In 2003, the restoration of the Church of Mar-Yuhanon was financed by the village's expatriate community.[14]
Demography
The following is a list of the number of Assyrian families that have inhabited Mzīzāḥ per year stated. Unless otherwise stated, all figures are from the list provided in Eastern Christianity, Theological Reflection on Religion, Culture, and Politics in the Holy Land and Christian Encounter with Islam and the Muslim World, as noted in the bibliography below.[15][b]
