Sisters open café in Midyat
A trio of Assyrian sisters have transformed a lifelong dream into reality by launching Izla Café, a stylish coffee‑house dedicated to reviving the tastes, aromas, and aesthetics of Assyria.
Sisters Mariam, Songul, and Nahrin, all natives of Midyat, spent months renovating a stone storefront in the old market quarter and have filled it with silver‑filigree lamps, hand‑loomed table runners, and a menu inspired by recipes handed down by their grandmother.
Their small coffeeshop, named Izla Café, is the latest addition to an ongoing trend where Assyrian owned shops and businesses are established in what can only be described as an Assyrian revival in the region.
The grand opening drew local clergy, artisans, and curious travellers eager to sample kehwa qahwa (cardamom coffee), bishi fritters, homemade pistachio ice‑cream, and seasonal dkeshath (stuffed vine leaves) prepared in the sisters’ own kitchen.
Part of a wider cultural revival
The opening of Izla Café follows a trend that began in early 2000's and that has seen a gradual revival of the Assyrian identity of Turabdin.
Although Turabdin (“Mountain of the Servants of God”) lost most of its Assyrian population during the last century due to genocide and oppression, a modest reverse migration has taken place. In nearby villages Kafro and Arkah, families who spent decades in Europe have returned to open restaurants, guesthouses, and silver workshops, hoping to rebuild a viable local economy while safeguarding their identity.
