User:Kharbaan Ghaltaan/Al–Bataween
Al–Bataween | |
|---|---|
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| Coordinates: 33.3201° N, 44.4205° E | |
| Country |  Iraq |
| Governorate | Baghdad Governorate |
| City | Baghdad |
| District | Rusafa |
| Government | |
| • Type | Municipal Corporation |
| • Body | Baghdad government |
al–Bataween is a neighborhood in Baghdad, Iraq. It is located in eastern region of Baghdad, on the riverside of the Tigris and is part of Rusafa district. Prior to the 2003 invasion of Iraq, it was the main Jewish quarter of Baghdad. The neighborhood is mainly inhabited by Muslims, Christians and few Jews.
Along with Al–Turat and Mutanabbi Street, al-Bataween was of the Jewish neighborhoods, which were affluent and livable areas of the city. It is home to synagogues, yeshivas, churches, clubs and schools. Today, the neighborhood is home to Baghdad's tiny Jewish community, numbering around 100. Today, a small number of Jews live in the neighborhood, along with their Muslim and Christian neighbors. The region is also inhabited by Egyptians, Sudanese and Syrians.
History
[edit]Bataween was one of the most affluent neighborhoods of Baghdad, originally built by Iraqi Jews in the 1930s.[1] The neighborhood was home to numerous synagogues, schools, yeshivas and clubs.[1] Following the rise of pro-Nazi government of Rashid Ali al-Gaylani in 1941 and subsequent anti-Jewish riots, resulted Jewish exodus from the neighborhood.[1] The Baghdad bombings of 1950–1951, caused more fear among the Jews of the neighborhood.[1] As the Jews began leaving the country, the area's largest synagogue became a passport center for them.[1]
During the time of Abdul-Karim Qasim, the situation of the region's Jews improved.[2] Fortune of the neighborhood further improved, as Saddam Hussein assumed more power.[2] Most of the Jews in Baghdad lived mainly in Bataween and few in other neighborhoods.[2] The Jewish people of the region and their sites were protected by the Ba'ath Security Forces.[3] Like elsewhere in Iraq, Jewish schools in the neighborhood were nationalized and renamed. Saddam restored the Meir Taweig Synagogue in 1985.[3] The synagogue was further expanded. During the Iran–Iraq War (1980–1988), a large percentage of the Arab community, particularly Sudanese and Egyptians, moved here.[2]
The neighborhood began to decline in the Gulf War. The international community imposed sanctions on Iraq, resulting mass exodus of people living in the neighborhood, particularly Christians. An incident happened in 1998, on the day of Jewish festival of Sukkot, where a Palestinian man shot four people to death at the synagogue, including two Jews. Following the arrest of the shooter, police were stationed around the synagogue and the Jewish quarter and maintained security. The incident was condemned by in a cabinet meeting, chaired by Saddam.
Post-Saddam
[edit]The synagogue was closed few weeks before the invasion of Iraq in 2003.[4] Within weeks of occupation, the coalition forces took control of Baghdad.[4] Firdos Square, located nearby, was the site were Saddam's statue was toppled, symbolizing end of his regime.[4] Like rest of Baghdad, residents of Bataween were subjected of kidnapping, bombings, thefts and other crimes.[4] The Jews living in the neighborhood were hidden and protected by their Muslim and Christian neighbors.[4] Many of them also started leaving the country.[4] The north of Bataween lies Bab Al-Sharqi area, which became a stronghold for the Mahdi Army, during insurgency against the coalition forces and civil war between Shi'ite and Sunni Muslims from 2006 to 2008.[4] Bataween was affected throughout the Iraq War. On 26th September 2009, around 6:30 A.M, Hafez Sadkhan Lefta, owner of Al Na'eim Hotel was murdered.[5]
Following the territorial expansion of the Islamic State (IS) during the 2013–2017 civil war, Christians living in the area, fled the country, fearful of future consequences.[4] Many Syrians moved to the neighborhood, escaping from the civil war in Syria. Today only handful of Jews are left in Iraq, most of them in Baghdad, residing in Al–Bataween.[6] But according to the some sources, as of 2014, an estimated 60 Jews found living in Baghdad.[7] The Jews of the neighborhood are now taken care by their Muslim neighbors.[8]
Landmarks
[edit]- Meir Taweig Synagogue was built in 1942. It was named after Meir Taweig, an Iraqi Jewish businessman. When the Jews were leaving the country, the synagogue served as passport center for them. The synagogue was restored by Saddam in 1985 and further expanded in 1988. It contains a library, Jewish school and community center. The library of the synagogue contained more than one million books. In 1984, it was confiscated by the Secret Police. Later the Jews themselves agreed with the authorities to keep the Jewish Archive, where it was preserved in tight security.
- Baghdad Jewish Club
- St. Gregory Armenian Church is an Orthodox Church, located on al-Tayeran Square, between Bab al-Sharqi and Bataween. It one of the churches of the Armenian community in Iraq. The church was named after Gregory the Illuminator. It's construction began in 1954 and was opened in 1957, with contribution from Armenian philanthropist Calouste Gulbenkian. Based on the Armenian architecture, the church complex is a sturdy building built with white reinforced concrete. Despite the attacks on churches in Iraq, after the downfall of Saddam, this church remained untouched by the attacks.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e Mahmoud, Sinan; Al-Ameri, Aymen. "Restoring Al Bataween - a symbol of Baghdad's lost diversity". The National. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
- ^ a b c d Müller, David (2024-06-25). "Restoring Al Bataween - a symbol of Baghdad's lost diversity". ojcos-stiftung (in German). Retrieved 2024-07-22.
- ^ a b "Baghdad Jews: Exodus or extinction?". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Shelley's Shadow – Hassan Mahamdallie". Critical Muslim. 2018-10-05. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
- ^ "d7610 :: Sep 26: Hotel owner murdered in Al Bataween, Baghdad :: Iraq Body Count". www.iraqbodycount.org. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
- ^ "There are only three Jewish people left in Iraq. Where did they all go? – gal-dem". gal-dem.com. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
- ^ "The Jewish Community of Iraq - History and Influence". Chaldean News. 2021-06-30. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
- ^ "Jews from Baghdad, Iraq - Escape in 1970". sites.jmemories.co.il. Retrieved 2024-08-03.