Sidekan

Sidekan
سیدەکان
Subdistrict
Nickname: 
Sidekan
Location in Iraq
Coordinates: 36°48′N 44°36′E / 36.8°N 44.6°E / 36.8; 44.6
Country Iraq
Region Kurdistan Region
GovernorateErbil Governorate
DistrictSoran District
Population
  Total
Less than 15,000
 Many original inhabitants displaced due to conflict
DemonymBradostian

Sidekan (Kurdish: سیدەکان ,Sîdekan) also called Bradost, is a vast subdistrict belonging to Soran District (Diana-Rawanduz) north of Erbil in Kurdistan Region, with 250 villages. The district also contains the area where the ancient Armenian city of Mahkert (Armenian: Մահկերտ, Mahkert) was. Sidekan has a population of less than 15,000. The exact number of Bradostian people estimated is more than this census but as the original inhabitants had been deported three times in 1961, 1978, and 1988 and a lot of them have not yet returned due to the frequent bombing by the Turkish and Iranian militaries on the Kurdistan Workers Party strongholds in Khakurk mountains, and also because of the lack of renovation projects by the local authorities.