| Basra Arabic: البصرة Al Baṣrah |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | Iraq |
| Governorate | Basrah Governorate |
| Founded | AD 636 |
| Population (2003 Est) | |
| - Total | 1,761,000 |
Basra (Arabic: البصرة; BGN: Al Baṣrah) is the third-largest city of Iraq with an estimated population of 1,761,000,[1] and the capital city of Basra Governorate. The Arabic alphabet is the script used for writing several languages of Asia and Africa such as Arabic, Persian, and Urdu. The United States Board on Geographic Names (BGN is a United States federal body whose purpose is to establish and maintain uniform usage of geographic A city is an Urban area with a large Population and a particular Administrative, Legal, or Historical status For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iraq topics. Basra province, or Al Basrah province, is a province of Iraq, with an area of. Basra City is the country's main port. ||-||-|-||-||-||-||-||-||-|} A port is a facility for receiving Ships and transferring cargo Baṣra played an important role in early Islamic history, and it was the first city built in Islam 14 A. Muslim history began in Arabia with the Muhammad 's first recitations of the Qur'an in the 7th century H (After Hijra).
Overview
The city is located along the Shatt al-Arab waterway near the Persian Gulf, 55 kilometers (34 mi) from the Persian Gulf and 545 kilometers (339 mi) from Baghdad, Iraq's capital and largest city. The Persian Gulf, in the Southwest Asian region is an extension of the Baghdad (بغداد) is the Capital of Iraq and of Baghdad Governorate, with which it is also coterminous
The area surrounding Basra has substantial petroleum resources and many oil wells. Petroleum ( L petroleum, from Greek πετρέλαιον, lit West Texas PumpjackJPG|thumb|right|300px|This Pumpjack located south of Midland TX is a common sight in West Texas. The city also has an international airport, which recently began restored service to Baghdad with Iraqi Airways - the nation's flag airline. An airport is a location where Aircraft such as airplanes, Helicopters and blimps take off and land Iraqi Airways ( Arabic: الخطوط الجوية العراقية also known as Air Iraq) is the National carrier of Iraq, based in Basra is in a fertile agricultural region, with major products including rice, maize corn, barley, pearl millet, wheat, dates, and livestock. Agriculture refers to the production of goods through the growing of plants and fungi and the raising of domesticated Animals The study of agriculture Rice is a Cereal foodstuff which forms an important part of the diet of many people worldwide and as such it is a staple food for many Maize (ˈmeɪz ( Zea mays L. ssp mays) known as corn in some countries is a cereal grain domesticated in Mesoamerica Barley ( Hordeum vulgare) is an annual Cereal Grain, which serves as a major animal Feed crop, with smaller amounts used for Pearl millet ( Pennisetum glaucum) is the most widely grown type of Millet. Wheat ( Triticum spp is a worldwide cultivated grass from the Levant area of the Middle East. The Date Palm ( Phoenix dactylifera) is a palm in the genus Phoenix, extensively cultivated for its edible Fruit. Livestock is the term used to refer (singularly or plurally to a Domesticated Animal intentionally reared in an agricultural setting to produce such as Food The city's oil refinery has a production capacity of about 140,000 barrels a day (22,300 m³). To help compare different Orders of magnitudes this page lists Volumes between 10000 and 100000 (10^{4} to 10^{5} cubic Metres
Muslim adherents of the area are primarily members of the Jafari Shi`a sect. This is a sub-article to Islamic jurisprudence and Twelvers. Jaʿfarī school of thought, Jaʿfarī jurisprudence or A sizable number of Sunnis, 35%[2] of Basra, also live there - although after the war it decreased to less than 10%,[3] as well as a small number of Christians. There are also remnants of the pre-Islamic gnostic sect of Mandaeans, whose headquarters were in the area formerly called Suk esh-Sheikh. Gnosticism (γνώσις gnōsis, Knowledge) refers to a diverse Syncretistic Religious movement consisting of various Belief systems Mandaeism or Mandaeanism ( Mandaic: Mandaiuta, مندائية Mandā'iyya) is a Monotheistic Religion with a strongly
A network of canals flowed through the city, giving it the nickname "The Venice of the Middle East" at least at high tide. Canals are artificial channels for water There are two types of canals water conveyance canals which are used for the conveyance and delivery of water and Waterways The tides at Basra fall by about 2. 7 meters (9 ft). For a long time, Basra was known for the superior quality of its dates. [4]
Islamic theology and scholarship
Wael Hallaq notes that by contrast with Medina and to a lesser extent Syria, in Iraq there was no unbroken Muslim population dating back to the Prophet's time. Wael B Hallaq (born in 1955 is one of the world’s leading scholars in Sunni jurisprudence and Islamic legal thought Syria ( سوريّة or) officially the Syrian Arab Republic (Arabic ar الجمهورية العربية السورية Therefore Maliki (and Azwaʿi) appeals to the practice (ʿamal) of the community could not apply. Instead the people of `Iraq relied upon those Companions of the Prophet who settled there, and upon such factions of the Hijaz whom they respected most.
Shirazi's "Tabaqat", which Wael Hallaq labels "an important early biographical work dedicated to jurists", covered 84 "towering figures" of Islamic jurisprudence; to which Basra provided 17. Wael B Hallaq (born in 1955 is one of the world’s leading scholars in Sunni jurisprudence and Islamic legal thought It was therefore a center surpassed only by Medina (22) and Kufa (20). Among the Companions who settled in Basra were Abu Musa and `Anas ibn Malik. Anas bin Malik' ibn Nadar al-Khazraji (c612-712, or died 709) was a well-known sahabi (companion of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Among its jurists, Hallaq singles out Muhammad ibn Sirin, Abu `Abd Allah Muslim ibn Yasar, and Abu Ayyub al-Sakhtiyani. Muhammad Ibn Sirin ( Arabic, محمد بن سيرين)(born in Basra, Iraq) was a Muslim interpreter of dreams who lived in the Qatada ibn Di`ama (680-736) attained respect as a traditionist and Qur'anic interpreter. In the late 750s, Sawwar ibn Abd Allah began the practice of paying salaries to the court's witnesses and assistants, ensuring their impartiality. Hammad ibn Salama (d. 784), mufti of Basra, was a teacher of Abu Hanifa. Al-Imam al-A'zam ( الامام الاعظم) "The Greatest Imam" Nu’man bin Thabit bin Zuta bin Mahan ( النعمان بن ثابت) better known by Abu Hanifa's student Zufar ibn al-Hudayl later moved from Kufa to Basra. Basran and Kufan law, under the patronage of the early `Abbasids, became a shared jurisprudence called the "Hanafi Madhhab"; as opposed to others, like the practice of Medina which became the Maliki Madhhab. Madhhab or Mazhab ( Arabic مذهب mæðhæb pl مذاهب mæðæːhıb) is an Islamic school of thought, or
Sufyan al-Thawri and Ma`mar ibn Rashid collected many legal and other teachings and traditions into books, and migrated to the Yemen; there 'Abd al-Razzaq included them into his Musannaf during the 9th century. Sufyan al-Thawri ibn Said (716-778 was a tabi'i Islamic scholar, Hafiz, Jurist and a Hadith compiler from Yemen ( Arabic: اليَمَن al-Yaman officially the Republic of Yemen ( Arabic: الجمهورية اليمنية al-Jumhuuriyya Musannaf Hadīth collections are defined by their arrangement of content according to topic and constitute a major category within the class of all such works Back in Basra, Musaddad ibn Musarhad compiled his own collection arranged in "Musnad" form. Musnad is a term used in the science of Hadith to classify a certain type of hadith
Basra also spawned heterodox interpretations of Islam. Rabi`ah al-`Adawiyya al-Qaysiyya (born 717), lived there and became popular as poet, mystic, and teacher. It was also among the first bases of the Qadariyya. Qadariyya (the name is based on the Arabic word قدر Qadar, meaning fate) was a theological movement in early Islam which held that man was endowed by
Qadarism in Islam corresponds to the doctrine of human free will in Christianity, as opposed to such doctrines of predestination as later proposed by, e. g. , John Calvin. John Calvin (or Jean Calvin) (10 July 1509 – 27 May 1564 was a French Protestant theologian during the Protestant Reformation and The traditionist Yahya ibn Ya`mar attributed the introduction of Qadari doctrines into Basra to a Ma'bad al-Juhani (d. Ma'bad ibn Kalid al-Juhani ar معبد الجهني (d 80 AH / 699CE ref> Tahdhib al-Tahdhib) was Qadari who was declared as a misguided by some of 80). Al-Hasan (scholar) developed a moderate form of this in his Risala: God may command, forbid, punish, and test; but He does not force ordinary mortals to evil or good despite that He has the power. TemplateInfobox Muslim scholars --> al-Hasan al-Basri (الحسن البصري (Abu Sa'id al-Hasan ibn Abi-l-Hasan Yasar Risāla means "message" in Arabic. It is also an Islamic term that has a broader meaning According to al-Dhahabi (Siyar A`lam al-Nubala 6:330 #858), al-Hasan's student Abu `Uthman `Amr ibn `Ubayd (d. Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn `Uthman ibn Qaymaz ibn `Abd Allah Shams al-Din Abu `Abd Allah al-Turkmani al-Diyarbakri al-Fariqi al-Dimashqi al-Dhahabi al-Shafi`i ( Arabic:محمد ~144) left al-Hasan's teaching circle and "isolated" himself by taking these doctrines further. In Syria, the reigning Marwanids relied on predestination to justify their hold on secular authority. Marwanid, ( 990 - 1085) was a Kurdish dynasty in Northern Mesopotamia and Armenia, centered around the city of Diyarbakır Imam Malik in his Muwatta recorded (with approval!) that caliph `Umar ibn `Abd al-Aziz had recommended putting Qadarists "to the sword". TemplateInfobox Muslim scholars --> Malik ibn Anas ibn Malik ibn 'Amr al-Asbahi ( Arabic مالك بن أنس The Muwaṭṭa (الموطأ is an early statement of Muslim law compiled and edited by Imam Malik. Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz (c 682 - February 720 (عمر بن عبد العزيز was an Umayyad Caliph who ruled from 717 to 720 Syrian hadith transmitters invented traditions of the Prophet that denounced Qadarism as a heresy, and labeled its believers and Basra as a whole as "monkeys and swine" - as sura 5 had said of the Jews.
Under Abu 'l-Hudhayl al-`Allaf (d. 841), the Basrans are also credited (or blamed) for the Mutazilist school, a form of rationalism which included the Qadari doctrines of al-Hasan and attracted the support of `Abbasid caliph al-Ma'mun. Muʿtazilah ( Arabic المعتزلة al-mu`tazilah) is a theological school of thought within Sunni Islam. Abu Jafar al-Ma'mun ibn Harun (also spelled Almamon and el-Mâmoûn) ( September 14, 786 &ndash August 9, 833) (المأمون
According to Arthur Jeffery, Basra also at first held to an idiosyncratic pronunciation of the Qur'an, which they put to paper as the "Lubab al-Qulub" and attributed to Abu Musa. For instance, this codex used the more Biblically correct "Ibraham", as against the "Ibrahim" which is forced by sura 21's rhyme; in addition there are no Abu Musa variants recorded for sura 21. This was also the reading of Ibn Al-Zubayr when he came to Mecca (although his variants did encompass sura 21). Abd Allah al-Zubayr or Ibn Zubayr or Abdullah ibn az-Zubayr' (624 - 692 (عبد الله بن الزبير was a Sahabi whose father was Zubayr ibn al-Awwam The likely solution is that the first Qur'an text at Basra was "defective", which is to say it lacked long vowel signs; and that Basra accepted sura 21 as part of Qur'an later than it accepted other suras - most likely during or after the mid-680s.
History
First millennium
636: Founding
The present city was founded in 636 as an encampment and garrison for the Arab tribesmen constituting the armies of amir `Umar ibn al-Khattab, a few kilometres south of the present city, where a tell still marks its site. Mashrabiya, Shanashil ( Arabic:مشربية or شناشيل is the Arabic term given to a type of projecting Oriel window enclosed with carved Year 1954 ( MCMLIV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1954 Gregorian calendar) Umar (a=عمر بن الخطاب|t=`Umar ibn al-Khattāb c 581-83 CE &ndash 7 November, 644) also known as Umar the Great or Omar the Great Tell, tel or tall (تلّ tall, and תֵּל tel) meaning "hill" or "mound" is a type of archaeological While defeating the Sassanid forces there, the Muslim commander Utba ibn Ghazwan first set up camp there on the site of an old Persian settlement called Vaheštābād Ardašīr, which was destroyed by the Arabs [5]. The Sassanid Empire or Sassanian Dynasty or Sassanian Dynasty (ساسانیان) is the name used for the third Iranian dynasty and the second Persian empire The name Al-Basrah, which in Arabic means "the over watching" or "the seeing everything", was given to it because of its role as a Military base against the Sassanid empire. The Sassanid Empire or Sassanian Dynasty or Sassanian Dynasty (ساسانیان) is the name used for the third Iranian dynasty and the second Persian empire Other sources however say its name originates from the Persian word Bas-rāh or Bassorāh meaning "where many ways come together" [6].
639: Abu-Musa al-Asha'ari
Umar established this encampment as a city with five districts, and appointed Abu-Musa al-Asha'ari as its first governor. Umar (a=عمر بن الخطاب|t=`Umar ibn al-Khattāb c 581-83 CE &ndash 7 November, 644) also known as Umar the Great or Omar the Great Abu-Musa Abd-Allah Ibn Qays al-Ash'ari, better known as Abu Musa al-Ashari (أبو موسى الأشعري (d Abu Musa led the conquest of Khuzestan from 639 to 642. Khūzestān (خوزستان is one of the 30 provinces of Iran. After this, `Umar ordered him to aid `Uthman ibn Abu al-`As, then fighting Iran from a new, more easterly misr at Tawwaj.
650: `Abdallah ibn `Amir
In 650, the amir `Uthman reorganised the Persian frontier, installed `Abdallah ibn `Amir as Basra's governor, and put the invasion's southern wing under Basra's responsibility. Uthman (a=عثمان|t=Othman Osman Usman Ozman is a male Arabic given name meaning "the chosen one amongst the tribe of brave and noble people" "honest" Ibn `Amir led his forces to their final victory over Yazdegard III, king of Persia. Basra accordingly had few quarrels with `Uthman and so in 656 sent few men to the embassy against him. On `Uthman's murder, Basra refused to recognise `Ali ibn Abu Talib; instead supporting the Meccan aristocracy then led by `Aisha, al-Zubayr, and Talha. ‘Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib (a=علي بن أﺑﻲ طالب|t=ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib 13th Rajab, 24 BH – 21st Ramaḍān, 40 AH `Ali defeated this force at the Battle of the Camel. "Battle of Basra" redirects here For other battles of Basra see Battle of Basra (1914, Battle of Basra (2003 and Battle of Basra (2008
In 656 The Sayabiga (Possibly of Indian/Indonesian origin) are ordered to guard the treasury.
6??: `Uthman ibn Hanif
Ali first installed `Uthman ibn Hanif as Basra's governor and then `Abd Allah ibn `Abbas. These men held the city for `Ali until the latter's death in 661.
661: Umayyad `Abd Allah
The Sufyanids held Basra until Yazid I's death in 683. Yazid ibn Muawiyah ibn Abu Sufyan (يزيد بن معاوية بن أبي سفيان ( July 23[[ 45]] - 683 was the second Caliph of the Umayyad Their first governor there was an Umayyad `Abd Allah, who proved to be a great general (under him, Kabul was forced to pay tribute) but a poor mayor.
661: Ziyad ibn Abu Sufyan
In 664 Mu`awiyah replaced him with Ziyad ibn Abu Sufyan, often called "Ibn Abihi (son of his own [unknown] father)", who became famed for his Draconian methods of public order. Ziyad ibn Abi Sufyan (زياد بن أبي سفيان (d 673 AD was a Muslim general and administrator and a member of the clan of the Umayyads
673: Ubayd-Allah ibn Ziyad
On Ziyad's death in 673, his son Ubayd-Allah ibn Ziyad became governor. Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad (عبيد الله بن زياد was a son of Ziyad ibn Abi Sufyan. In 680, Yazid I ordered Ubayd Allah to keep order in Kufa as a reaction to Hussein ibn `Ali's popularity there; Hussein had already fled, and so Ubayd Allah executed Hussein's cousin Muslim ibn Aqeel. Yazid ibn Muawiyah ibn Abu Sufyan (يزيد بن معاوية بن أبي سفيان ( July 23[[ 45]] - 683 was the second Caliph of the Umayyad Muslim ibn Aqeel was the cousin of the third Shi’a Imam Husayn ibn Ali, and was the son of Aqeel ibn Abu Talib.
684: Abd-Allah ibn al-Harith
In 683, Abd Allah ibn Zubayr was hailed as the new caliph in the Hijaz. Abd Allah al-Zubayr or Ibn Zubayr or Abdullah ibn az-Zubayr' (624 - 692 (عبد الله بن الزبير was a Sahabi whose father was Zubayr ibn al-Awwam The Caliph is the Head of state in a Caliphate, and the title for the leader of the Islamic Ummah, an Islamic community ruled by the Shari'ah In 684 the Basrans forced Ubayd Allah to take shelter with Mas'ud al-Azdi and chose Abd Allah ibn al-Harith as their governor. Ibn al-Harith swiftly recognised Ibn al-Zubayr's claim, and Ma'sud made a premature and fatal move on Ubayd Allah's behalf; and so `Ubayd Allah felt obliged to flee.
Ibn al-Harith spent his year in office trying to put down Nafi' ibn al-Azraq's Kharijite uprising in Khuzestan. Khūzestān (خوزستان is one of the 30 provinces of Iran. Islamic tradition condemns him as feckless abroad and corrupt at home, but praises him on matters of doctrine and prayer.
684: Umar ibn Ubayd Allah
In 685, Ibn al-Zubayr required a practical man, and so appointed Umar ibn Ubayd Allah ibn Ma'mar [7]
684: Mus`ab ibn al-Zubayr
Finally Ibn al-Zubayr appointed his own brother Mus`ab. In 686, the self-proclaimed prophet Mukhtar led an insurrection at Kufa, and put an end to Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad near Mosul. For the village in Azerbaijan see Mosul Azerbaijan. Mosul (الموصل Al Mūṣul, Kurdish: Mosul/Ninawa, Musul In 687, Mus`ab defeated Mukhtar, with the help of Kufans whom Mukhtar had exiled [8].
684: Al-Hajjaj
`Abd al-Malik reconquered Basra in 691, and Basra remained loyal to his governor al-Hajjaj during Ibn Ash`ath's mutiny 699-702. Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan (646-705 (عبد الملك بن مروان was the 5th Umayyad Caliph. However Basra did support the rebellion of Yazid ibn al-Muhallab against Yazid II during the 720s. Yazid bin Abd al-Malik or Yazid II (687 - 724 (يزيد بن عبد الملك was an Umayyad Caliph who ruled from 720 until his death in 724 In the 740s, Basra fell to al-Saffah of the `Abbasids. Abu al-`Abbās `Abdu'llāh as-Saffāh ibn Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Abdullah ibn Abbas ibn Mutalib ibn Hashim (Arabic أبو العباس
Abbasid dynasty
During the time of the Abbasid dynasty Basra became an intellectual center as it was the home city of the Arab universal genius Ibn al-Haytham, the Arab literary giant al-Jahiz, and the Sufi mystic Rabia Basri. A polymath ( Greek polymathēs, πολυμαθής "having learned much" is a person whose knowledge is not restricted to one subject area TemplateInfobox Muslim scholars --> ( Arabic: ابو علی، حسن بن حسن بن هيثم Latinized Arabic literature ( Arabic: الأدب العربي Al-Adab Al-Arabi) is the writing produced both Prose and Poetry, by speakers Al-Jāḥiẓ (in Arabic الجاحظ (real name Abu Uthman Amr ibn Bahr al-Kinani al-Fuqaimi al-Basri) (born in Basra, c Sufism ( تصوّف - taṣawwuf, Persian: صوفیگری sufigari, Turkish: tasavvuf, Urdu: تصوف Rābiʻa al-ʻAdawiyya al-Qaysiyya ( Arabic: رابعة العدوية القيسية or simply Rabiʿa al-Basri (717–801 C
Zanj Rebellion led by Ali bin Muhammad, or Sahib az-Zanji
this was a rebellion by the low land slaves who were agricultural slaves. Note The Zanj Rebellion was not a single revolt but a series of small revolts that eventually culminated to a large revolt . brought from different fringes of the empire
871 the Zanj sacked Basra
923 The Qarmatians, an extremist Muslim sect, invaded and devastated Basra (Encyclopedia Britannica)
965 Alhazen, was born in Basra
945-1055, a Buwayhid dynasty ruled Baghdad and most of Iraq (from Buwayhid page) Abu al Qasim al Baridis, who still controlled Basra and Wasit, were defeated and their lands taken by the Buyids in 947
Daylamid period Sanad Al-Daula (al-habashi) is governor of Basra, Builds a library of 15000 books. Diya' al-Daula was the Buyid ruler of Basra during the 980s. He was the son of 'Adud al-Daula: see Samsam al-Daula page for more details as there appears to have been a great deal of rivalry in the al-Daula group.
Seljuk period Great Friday Mosque constructed in Basra 1122 Zengi receives Basra as a fief (Penny Encyclopedia) 1126 Zengi suppresses a revolt
1129 Dabis loots basra state treasury
1200 Map 'on the eve of the Mongol invasions' shows the Abbasid Caliphate as ruling lower Iraq and presumably Basra
1258 Mongols sack Bagdhad and end Abbasid reign. By some accounts Basra capitulates to the Mongols to avoid a massacre.
Mongol Dominions map 1300-1405 shows Basra under their control
Mamluk Bahri Dynasty map 1250 - 1382 shows Basra as being under their area of control
1290 Buscarello_de_Ghizolfi page: internal fight erupted at the Persian Gulf port of Basra among the Geneose (between the Guelfe and the Gibelin families)
1327 Ibn Battuta visits Basra: It was in decline with the great mosque being 2 miles out of town. An Ilkhanid Governor received him.
1411 Jalayrid leader ousted from Basra by Kara Koyunlu of the Black Sheep Turkmen
1523 The Portuguese Antonio Tenreiro crosses from Aleppo to Basra
1546 Turks reached Basra.
1550 Portuguese threaten Basra
1624 Portuguese assist Basra Pasha in repelling a Persian invasion, Portuguese granted a share of customs and freedom from tolls.
From about 1625 until 1668, Basra and the Delta marshlands were in the hands of local chieftains independent of the Ottoman administration at Baghdad
Second millennium
1668: Ottoman Empire
It was long a flourishing commercial and cultural center, until it was captured by the Ottoman Empire in 1668, after which it declined in importance, but was fought over by Turks and Persians and was the scene of repeated attempts at resistance. The Ottoman Empire (1299–1923 ( Old Ottoman Turkish: دولتْ علیّه عثمانیّه Devlet-i Âliye-yi Osmâniyye, Late Ottoman and Modern Turkish layout and formatting it should ensure no clashes with the top of the infobox
1911: Ottoman Empire
In 1911, the Encyclopaedia Britannica reported some Jews and a few Christians living in Basra, but no Turks other than Ottoman officials. The wealthiest and most influential personage in Basra was the nakib, or marshal of the nobility (i. e. descendants of the family of the prophet, who are entitled to wear the green turban). In 1884 the Ottomans responded to local pressure from the Shi'as of the south by detaching the southern districts of the Baghdad vilayet and creating a new vilayet of Basra.
1914 : World War I
After the Battle of Basra (1914) during World War I the occupying British modernized the port (works designed by Sir George Buchanan), which became the principal port of Iraq. For other battles of Basra see Battle of Basra. The Battle of Basra was a battle of World War I which took place in the city of World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Sir George Cunningham Buchanan ( 1865-04-20 - 1940-04-14) was a British Civil engineer particularly associated with Harbour works
1939 : World War II
During World War II it was an important port through which flowed much of the equipment and supplies sent to Russia by the other allies. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending At the end of the second world war the population was some 93,000 people.
1945-1990: peacetime and the Iran-Iraq War
The University of Basrah was founded in 1964. The University of Basrah ( UB) ( Arabic: جامعة البصرة Jami'at Al Basrah) is situated in the city of Basra, Iraq.
By 1977 the population had risen to a peak population of some 1. 5 million. The population declined during the Iran-Iraq War, being under 900,000 in the late 1980s, possibly reaching a low point of just over 400,000 during the worst of the war. The city was repeatedly shelled by Iran and was the site of many fierce battles, such as Operation Ramadan. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. A phase of the Iran-Iraq War, Operation Ramadan was launched by Iran in July 1982 near Basra.
1991: Persian Gulf War
After the first Persian Gulf War in 1991 Basra was the site of widespread revolt against Saddam Hussein, which was violently put down with much death and destruction inflicted on the city. Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti ( Arabic: ar صدام حسين عبد المجيد التكريتي --> April 28 1937 &ndash December 30
1999: Second revolt
A second revolt in 1999 led to mass executions in and around Basra, subsequently the Iraqi government deliberately neglected the city and much commerce was diverted to Umm Qasr. Umm Qasr (أم قصر also Transliterated as: Um-qasir, Um-qasser) is a Port city in southern Iraq. These alleged abuses are to feature amongst the charges against the former regime to be considered by the Iraq Special Tribunal set up by the Iraq Interim Government following the 2003 invasion. The Supreme Iraqi Criminal Tribunal (formerly Iraqi Special Tribunal) is a body established under Iraqi national law to try Iraqi nationals or residents accused The Iraqi Interim Government was created by the United States and its coalition allies as a Caretaker government to govern Iraq until the Iraqi
Third millennium
Workers in Basra's oil industry have been involved in extensive organization and labor conflict. They held a two-day strike in August 2003, and formed the nucleus of the independent General Union of Oil Employees (GUOE) in June 2004. Strike action, often simply called a strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal by Employees to perform work. Founded in October of 2005 from unions that had begun organizing after the Invasion, the Federation of Oil Unions of Iraq is the largest independent union The union held a one-day strike in July 2005, and publicly opposes plans for privatizing the industry.
2003: Iraq War and occupation
In March through May of 2003, the outskirts of Basra were the scene of the heaviest fighting in the 2003 invasion of Iraq. The 2003 invasion of Iraq, from March 20 to May 1 2003 was spearheaded by the United States, backed by British forces and smaller contingents from Australia British forces, led on foot by units of the 3rd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment and supported by 7th Armoured Brigade, took the city on 6 April 2003. The 7th Armoured Brigade is a formation of the British Army. The Brigade is also known as the 'Desert Rats' a nickname formerly held by the 7th Armoured Events 46 BC - Julius Caesar defeats Caecilius Metellus Scipio and Marcus Porcius Cato in the Battle of Thapsus This city was the first stop for the United States and the United Kingdom, during the 2003 Invasion of Iraq. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located
2004: Car bomb
On 21 April 2004, a series of bomb blasts ripped through the city, killing 74 people. Events 753 BC - Romulus and Remus found Rome ( traditional date) "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " On April 21, 2004, a series of large Car bomb explosions ripped through Basra, Iraq.
The Multi-National Division (South-East), under British Command, is engaged in Security and Stabilization missions in Basra Governorate and surrounding areas. Multi-National Division (South-East (MND(SE is a British commanded division responsible for security in the south east of Iraq. Basra province, or Al Basrah province, is a province of Iraq, with an area of.
2005
January: Elections
Political groups and their ideology which are strong in Basra are reported to have close links with political parties already in power in the Iraqi government, despite opposition from Iraqi Sunnis and the more secular Kurds. Sunni Islam is the largest denomination of Islam. Sunni Islam is also referred to as Ahl as-Sunnah wa’l-Jamā‘h (Arabic January 2005 elections saw several radical politicians gain office, supported by religious parties.
2007
September 3rd: UK troops withdraw to Basra Airport
British troops pull out of Basra city and the palace and move to a base at Basra International Airport.
December 16th: UK troops transfer control to Iraqi authorities
British troops transfer control of Basra province to the Iraqi authorities, four-and-a-half years after the invasion. [9] A BBC survey of local residents finds that 86% think the presence of British troops since 2003 has had an overall negative effect on the province. [10]
New Police Chief
Abdul Jalil Khalaf was appointed Police Chief by the central government with the task of taking on the militias. He has been outspoken against the targeting of women by the militias. [11]. Talking to the BBC, he said that his determination to tackle the militia has led to almost daily assassination attempts [12]. This has been taken as sign that he is serious in opposing the militias[13].
2008
In March 2008, the Iraqi Army launched a major offensive, code-named Saulat al-Fursan (Charge of the White Knights), aimed at forcing the Mahdi Army out of Basra. For other battles of Basra see Battle of Basra. The Battle of Basra began on March 25, 2008, when the Iraqi Army This page describes the Shia Mahdi Army of contemporary Iraq for the Sunni Mahdi Army of Nineteenth Century Sudan see Muhammad Ahmad. The assault was planned by Gen Mohan Furaiji and approved by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Office The Prime Minister of Iraq is Iraq's Head of government. Nouri Kamel Mohammed Hassan al-Maliki ( Arabic: نوري كامل محمّد حسن المالكي transliterated Nūrī Kāmil al-Mālikī; born June [14]
Security commanders removed
In April 2008, following the failure to disarm militant groups, both Maj-Gen Abdul Jalil Khalaf and Gen Mohan Furaiji are removed from their positions in Basra. [15]
Killing of Rand Abdel-Qader
In March 2008, Rand Abdel-Qader, a 17 year old local girl, was killed by her father in a so-called honour killing after she developed a friendship with a 22 year old British soldier. An honor killing or honour killing is generally the Murder of a family or clan member most often females when they (and maybe the wider community believe [16][17] Her mother Leila Hussein said "When he entered the house, his eyes were bloodshot and he was trembling. I got worried and tried to speak to him but he headed straight for our daughter's room and he started to yell at her. He asked if it was true that she was having an affair with a British soldier. She started to cry. She was nervous and desperate. He got hold of her hair and started thumping her again and again. I screamed and called out for her two brothers so they could get their father away from her. But when he told them the reason, instead of saving her they helped him end her life. I just couldn't stand it. I fainted. I woke up in a blur later with dozens of neighbours at home and the local police. "[16] Sergeant Ali Jabbar said "Not much can be done when we have an 'honour killing' case. You are in a Muslim society and women should live under religious laws. The father has very good contacts inside the Basra government and it wasn't hard for him to be released and what he did to be forgotten. Sorry but I cannot say more about the case. " In 2007, according to the Basra Security Committee, 47 Basra women were killed by "honour killings", resulting in only three convictions for murder. [16]
H. G. Wells and Basra
The city of Basra has a major role in H.G. Wells's 1934 future history "The Shape of Things to Come" where the Iraqi city is at the center of a world state emerging after a collapse of civilization and becomes in effect the capital of the world (see [2]). Herbert George Wells (21 September 1866 &ndash 13 August 1946 He was an outspoken socialist and a pacifist, his later works becoming increasingly political This article focuses on future histories in general For Robert A The Shape of Things to Come is a work of Science fiction by H World government is the concept of a political body that would make interpret and enforce International law.
Sister Cities
Footnotes
- ^ Thomas Brinkhoff: City Population, http://www.citypopulation.de/Iraq.html
- ^ موقع فيصل نور - نسبة السنة والشيعة في العراق
- ^ موقع فيصل نور - نسبة السنة والشيعة في العراق
- ^ Produced the finest dates known 1st paragraph. Baku (Bakı sometimes known as Baqy, Baky, Baki or Bakü, is the capital the largest city and the largest port of Azerbaijan Azerbaijan ( English; Azərbaycan officially the Republic of Azerbaijan (Azərbaycan Respublikası is the largest and most populous country in the South Michigan ( is a Midwestern state of the United States of America. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the [1] retrieved 08/26/2007
- ^ according to Encyclopædia Iranica, E. Yarshater, Columbia University, p851
- ^ See Mohammadi Malayeri, M. Encyclopædia Iranica is a project whose goal is to create a comprehensive and authoritative English language Encyclopedia about the history culture and Ehsan Yarshater ( born April 3, 1920, Hamadan, Iran) is the director of The Center for Iranian Studies and Hagop Kevorkian Professor Emeritus Columbia University is a private University in the United States and a member of the Ivy League. Dil-i Iranshahr.
- ^ (Madelung p. 303-4)
- ^ (Brock p. 66)
- ^ "UK troops return Basra to Iraqis", BBC News, 2007-12-16. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 755 - An Lushan revolts against Chancellor Yang Guozhong at Fanyang, initiating the An Shi Rebellion
- ^ "Basra residents blame UK troops", BBC News, 2007-12-14. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1287 - St Lucia's flood: The Zuider Zee sea wall in the Netherlands collapses killing over 50000 people
- ^ "Basra militants targeting women", BBC News.
- ^ "Basra: The Legacy", BBC News.
- ^ "Uncertainty follows Basra exit", BBC News.
- ^ "Iraqi Army’s Assault on Militias in Basra Stalls", New York Times, 2008-03-27. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 196 BC - Ptolemy V ascends to the throne of Egypt. 1309 - Pope Clement V excommunicates Retrieved on 2008-03-27. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 196 BC - Ptolemy V ascends to the throne of Egypt. 1309 - Pope Clement V excommunicates
- ^ "Basra security leaders removed", BBC News, 2008-04-16. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1178 BC - A Solar eclipse may have marked the return of Odysseus, legendary King of Ithaca, to his kingdom
- ^ a b c Afif Sarhan in Basra, Mark Townsend and Caroline Davies. "Her crime was to fall in love. She paid with her life", The Guardian, 2008-04-27. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1124 - David I becomes King of Scotland. 1296 - Battle of Dunbar: The Scots are defeated
- ^ Sadie Gray. "Girl, 17, killed in Iraq for loving a British soldier", The Independent, 2008-04-27. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1124 - David I becomes King of Scotland. 1296 - Battle of Dunbar: The Scots are defeated
- ^ From Basra to Detroit: Sister Cities
Bibliography
- Hallaq, Wael. The Origins and Evolution of Islamic Law. Cambridge University Press, 2005
- Hawting, Gerald R. The First Dynasty of Islam. Routledge. 2nd ed, 2000
- Madelung, Wilferd. "Abd Allah b. al-Zubayr and the Mahdi" in the Journal of Near Eastern Studies 40. 1981. pp. 291-305.
- Vincent, Stephen. Into The Red Zone: A Journey Into the Soul of Iraq. ISBN 1-890626-57-0.
See also
- List of places in Iraq
- Basra International Airport
- Dua Kumayl
- Basra Reed Warbler
- University of Basrah
External links
- 2003 Basra map (NIMA)
- Boomtown Basra
- Muhammad and the Spread of Islam by Sanderson Beck
- Theological Themes
- The Qadariyya, Mu'tazila, and Shi'a
- The Textual History of the Qur'an, Arthur Jeffery, 1946
- Codex of Abu Musa al-Ashari, Arthur Jeffery, 1936
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