In Mardin southeast Turkey there lives a group/race called the Mhallami. They are people who speak arabic, have kurdish culture and live in Mardin area since many hundred of years. I am asking this question, because there are many theories about their original origin. For example some people say they are arabs, kurdish, assyrians etc. Even the Mhallamis themself dont know 100% their origin.
So my question what is their origin. For example if they are arabs, why do they live there so far away from arabian peninsula.
Thank you in advance.
If you ask the Assyrians of the area, they will say that they are former Assyrians who converted to Islam 300-400 years ago because of a dispute with a bishop (something about lent).
They're most definitely not ethnic arabs from the peninsula. Any modern genetic test will show that considering the major genetic difference between ethnic arabs and other middle eastern populations.