06.11.2025 22:24
In the village of Yeşildere, which has 65 households and is part of the Yüksekova district of Hakkari, the last name of the entire population, except for the village imam Rıdvan Kuş, is "Bilici." To prevent confusion, the village headman Melih Bilici stated that nicknames or father's names are used. He said, "There can be confusion in official transactions. My nephew and my uncle had the same name. One day, state officials mistakenly called my uncle and arrested him."
Located 35 kilometers away from the Yüksekova district of Hakkari, the village of Yeşildere was established approximately 110 years ago when Mevlüt Bilici left the village of Gökyurt with his wife and children Refik, Sıddık, Kerem, Fetullah, Tevfik, and Feyzi Bilici. Over time, both the number of households and the population increased in this village where Mevlüt Bilici settled.
EVERYONE IN THE VILLAGE HAS THE SURNAME "BİLİCİ"
Currently, the village of Yeşildere, which has reached 65 households and approximately 500 inhabitants, continues to have the surname 'Bilici' among its residents. The village headman Melih Bilici stated that only the village imam Rıdvan Kuş has a different surname, and he mentioned that Rojin Bilici, who teaches in the single-class kindergarten with 17 students, is also from the same village and is a relative.
"WE TRUST EACH OTHER IN THIS VILLAGE"
Headman Bilici noted that no incidents have occurred in the village due to familial ties, saying, "Our grandfather settled here in the 1910s. His children and grandchildren continue their lives here with the same surname. We are happy about this. We are all one family in the village; we live together in unity and solidarity as uncles, uncle's children, and cousins. We trust each other in this village. For example, when we go somewhere, we can leave our house without locking the door. Because our neighbors are either our uncles or our uncle's sons. They come and look after our children at home. Therefore, we have no worries at all," he said.
NICKNAMES OR FATHER'S NAMES ARE USED TO AVOID CONFUSION
Bilici, who mentioned the similarities in names in the village, stated, "To avoid confusion, we can easily explain who is who by using nicknames like long or short, or by using the father's name like 'Kerem's son Mehmet'."
"MY UNCLE WAS ARRESTED BY MISTAKE DUE TO NAME SIMILARITY"
Bilici expressed that sometimes there are confusions in official transactions due to the same name and surname, saying, "For example, a few years ago, my nephew and my uncle had the same name. Both were Kadir Bilici. One day, government officials mistakenly called my uncle and arrested him. Later, the mistake was realized and corrected because their mother's and father's names were different. Sometimes such surprises happen. As a family, we are proud of our surname. We are happy to share the same surname; it is a bond that keeps us together," he said.
"WE ARE ALL BİLİCİ, WE ARE ALL FROM THE SAME FAMILY"
85-year-old Refik Bilici said, "My father came from Gökyurt village and settled here, and we have grown from 1 household to 65 households. Our population has also reached 500 people. We are all Bilici. We are all from the same family. I have 22 children, but I don't know how many grandchildren I have."
"OUR DOORS NEVER STAY CLOSED"
22-year-old Rojin Bilici, who teaches in her own village, said, "I am currently teaching at the school I attended. I am very happy about that. I am a kindergarten teacher, and all my students are relatives, uncle's children, and cousins. During our visits, we generally go to our uncles' and aunts' houses since there are usually no strangers. Our doors are never closed. Our doors are always open; there is no better feeling than this," she said.
"THIS SITUATION DOESN'T SEEM STRANGE TO US ANYMORE"
Ronahi Bilici, one of the villagers, stated that having the same surname is beautiful, saying, "It is a great privilege for all of us to be relatives. This situation doesn't seem strange to us anymore. But when we mention it elsewhere, people find it very interesting. They are surprised and ask, 'How can everyone have the same surname?' There are also a few people with the same name. In this case, we usually try to differentiate by using nicknames or by mentioning the father's name to avoid confusion," she said.