Sulaymaniyah
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (February 2009) |
Sulaimaniyah | |
|---|---|
| Sulaimaniyah Sulaimaniyah | |
| Country | Iraq |
| Governorate | Kurdistan Sulaimaniyah |
| Elevation | 2,895 ft (882 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | over 1,700,000 (2,008) |
Sulaimaniyah (BGN: Kurdish: سلێمانی, Silêmanî, Sulaimānīyah; Template:Lang-ar) is a city in the east of Iraqi Kurdistan. It is situated in the northeast of Iraq, and is the capital of As Sulaimaniyah Governorate. It served as the historic capital of the Kurdish principality of Baban from 1784 to 1850.
History
The modern city of Sulaimanyah was founded in 1784 by a Kurdish prince known as Ibrahim Pasha Baban who named it for his father Sulaiman Pasha. Since being founded as the capital of a powerful Kurdish principality it has grown to about 1,800,000 people. It is the cultural centre of the Sorani-speaking Kurds and an important economic centre for Kurdistan.
The region of Sulaimanyah was known as Zamwa prior to its founding in 1784. During the post-World War I-British occupation of the newly created state of Iraq, Sulaimaniyah was the center of nascent Kurdish nationalism, and it was from here that Shaykh Mahmud Barzanji raised the first rebellion against the British occupation in 1919. After his defeat at Bazyan Pass that year, he was exiled for several years, only to return and raise another unsuccessful rebellion centered in Sulaimaniyah in 1923. With Kurdistan's subsequent inclusion in Arab Iraq, Sulaimaniyah enjoyed a few further years of greater autonomy than western Kurdish cities like Erbil and Mosul.
In 1925 a mass revolts broke out against British occupation. Winston Churchill argued ‘in favour of using poisoned gas against uncivilised tribes’ but contrary to often misquoted sources and even recent histories which have been distorted in citation, there is no evidence that it was ever used (see Wikipedia for "British and Poison Gas" for a discussion of sources and inaccuracies). [1]
Since liberation in 1991, it has been administered by Autonomous Kurdish Government and serves as one of the metropolises of Iraqi Kurdistan (KRG). The city is quickly becoming a tourist attraction for Iraqis and other Middle Easterners due to its relative prosperity, security, and natural beauty. It is also known for its strong economic ties with Iran.
Universities
The University of Sulaimany opened in 1968 with instruction in Kurdish, Arabic, and English. It has faculties in engineering, agriculture, the arts, science, and medicine. The University was moved during the 1980s to Erbil, and is now known as the University of Salahadin.
A new University of Sulaimany was established in 1991, teaching in Kurdish,English and Arabic. In 2007 the American University of Iraq, Sulaimany, teaching in English only, was inaugurated in Sulaimany, with 50 students enrolled for the first year.
In 2008 the University of Human Development was opened in Qaradax with three colleges and four departments. Its first year courses include law, politics, computer engineering and English language. More than 400 students have enrolled.
Culture
Sulaimany is considered the center of the Sorani Kurdish culture in Kurdistan.It is recognized officially as the cultural capital of iraqi Kurdistan.Development of Sorani as a modern literary language started in this city in the early 19th century, when many Kurdish poets and philosophers like Goran and Piremerd published their works here. The museum of Sulaimani is a popular destination for travellers,it's located at the main street of Salim,the most popular street of Sulaymaniyah city,it contains many valuable mesopotamian artifacts.Zamoa Gallery is openned a round the year displaing the works of the artists of the city,it is runned by one of the most famouse modern kurdish artists called Rostem Aghella.Aram Gallery is another place for various artistic activities,they intiated the night cinema project where people can go watching a film. The "hall of Art" and "the hall of culture" are the locations of the main ocassional artistical displays,like the one held at 21/2/2009 a concert featuring some of world music's best known performers,American drummer Tariq Snare, Iranian musician Sohrab Pournazeri played kemancheh,Matthaios Tsahourides of Greece,Youssif Mohammed from Afghanistan played the tabla and Hussein Zehawy from Kurdistan played the kurdish Deff.More than 3000 attendants formed the crowded audence.The recenlty formed the National youth orchestra of Iraq,Paul MacAlindin from UK as it's conductor held their intial concert in Sulaymaniyah city,over 30 Iraqi musicians formed the orchestra. Their work included European and Iraqi orchestral works: Beethoven's Prometheus Overture,Kurdish Dances,Haydn - Symphony No. 99.
Economy
Sulaymaniyah governorate has many fertile acres of land such as the Shehrezoor and Bitwen plains which are considered two of the most fertile plains in the Middle East.Local farmers from Bitwen and Shehrezoor are generally more active and are greater in number,and their products are most famouse not only in Sulaymaniyah but across Iraq as well.Sulaymaniyah used to rely mainly on agriculture in the past.One of Iraq's major supplies of wheat and other agricultural products used to come from Kurdistan and specially Sulaymaniyah,but its role has declined due to the policies of Seddam Hussein aimed to reduce the city's economical capabilities,as the vast majority of the Kurdish revolution's power was concentrated in this city.Seddam once said that the head of the serpent lies in Sulaymaniyah.Sulaymaniyah's economy also rely's on tourism.Annually thousands of Iraqi Arabs travel to Sulaymaniyah,which has been named the most governorate of Iraq many times.Small factories are established most of them produce building materials and are contributing to it's economy.Huawei's Iraq office is in Sulaimaniyah.<ef>"Contact us." Huawei. Retrieved on 4 February 2009.</ref>
Transportation
NO train or rail road is established to connect Sulaymaniyah to the other Iraqi cities,so transportation rely's on car only.Since 20/7/2005 Sulaimaniyah International Airport was opened with regular flights to various estern and europian destinations,europian cities like Vienna,Frankfurt,Stockholm,Munich and Dusseldurf as well as Middle Eastern cities like Dubai, Amman,Beirut,Damascus,Istanbul.A flisht from Sulaymaniyah to the capital of iraq costs about 100.000 ID.