|
|||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sulaimaniya |
| Sulaymaniyah | |
 |
|
  Sulaymaniyah
|
|
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Iraq |
|---|---|
| Governorate | Sulaimaniyah |
| Elevation | 2,895 ft (882 m) |
| Population | |
| - Total | over 1 700 000 (2,008) |
| Twin Cities | |
| - Tucson, Arizona |  United States |
Sulaimaniya (BGN: Kurdish: سلێمانی, Silêmanî, Sulaimānīyah; Arabic: السليمانية) is a city in the east of Iraqi Kurdistan. It is situated in the northeast of Iraq, and is the capital of As Sulaymaniyah Governorate. It served as the historic capital of the Kurdish principality of Baban from 1784 to 1850.
Contents |
The modern city of Sulaimanya 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 Sulaimanya 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, Sulaymaniyah 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 Sulaymaniyah in 1923. With Kurdistan's subsequent inclusion in Arab Iraq, Sulaymaniyah enjoyed a few further years of greater autonomy than western Kurdish cities like Irbil 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.
The University of Sulaimani 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 1980’s to Arbil, and is now known as the University of Salahadin.
A new university called The University of Sulaimani was established in 1991, teaching in Kurdish, Arabic and English.
In 2007 the American University of Iraq, Sulaimani, teaching in English only, was inaugurated in Sulaimani, with 50 students enrolled for the first year new added
in 2008 the University of Human Development was opened in Qaradax with three colleges and four departments. In its first year courses include law, politics, computer engineering and English language. More than 400 students have enrolled.
Sulaimani is considered the center of the Sorani Kurdish culture in 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.
Sulaymaniyah, since 20/7/2005 has an international airport with regular connections to the European cities Vienna and Frankfurt as well as Middle Eastern cities like Dubai, Amman and Damascus. The air traffic here is not hindered by terrorism.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |