Niheli
Niheli or Nihel "Nihêl" "نهێل" is the name of a tribe and an area in Duhok province, Kurdistan region of Iraq, people who belong to the Nihel tribe (area) live in more than 14 villages along Metin mountain. The people of Nihel tribe speak Kurdish language, Bahdini dialect. The majority of people in Nihel area are Sunni Muslim besides Assyrian Christians who are minority there.
Nihel area is culturally very rich. It has kept originality Kurdish folklore, people of the area have had a big impact on the Kurdish freedom fight and revolution against Saddam regime. Till today many members of Nihel community are fighters in the Kurdish forces of Peshmerga.
Nihel is rather a small tribe and area comparing to other Kurdish tribes and areas, throughout history its people were more connected to Kurdish nationalism than tribalism.
The following are names of the Nihel villages:
- Dirgini
- Rashava
- Seri
- Kelyan
- Ziliye
- Guwiziye
- Guharz
- Barchi
- Balava
- Siger
- Sargal
- Kirku
- Binavi
- Boti