The 1977 Shia protests in Iraq, or the Safar uprising, were a series of demonstrations and riots against the Iraqi government in Karbala and Najaf Governorates, the demonstrations started on 4 February 1977 and finished on 9 February in the same year.[1][2] Demonstrators had taken to the streets to demonstrate against the Iraqi government because they had blocked Arbaʽeen Pilgrimage.[1][3] The Iraqi security forces killed and arrested many protesters and presented them to trial in a revolution court, the revolution court declared execution for eight demonstrators and life imprisonment for 16 demonstrators.[4]

Background

On 17 July 1968 the Ba'athism took power in Iraq, Ba'athism is an Arab nationalist and Arab socialist ideology that promotes the development and creation of a unified Arab state. In 1977, Ba'athism attempted to ban an annual pilgrimage to Karbala as well as attempted to ban religious processions.[5] This move sparked protests, with the pilgrimage transforming into the 1977 Safar uprising in holy shia citys.[6][7]

Timeline

  • 4 February: In Najaf city, many protesters went out in the street and were blocked from going to Karbala for Arbaʽeen Pilgrimagee.[8] The protesters stayed in Khan Al-Musala (Al-Rube) for the night[8]
  • 5 February: The protesters arrived Al-Haydreyah (Khan Al-Nus), a small town located north of Najaf. The protesters stayed there that night[8]
  • 6 February: In Al-Haydreyah town, one protestor was killed. His name was Muhammed Al-Mayali. He was killed after violent clashes between protesters and Iraqi security forces.[8][9] The protesters set many police offices on fire along the road between Najaf and Karbala. The protesters arrived to Khan Khan al-Rubu' (Khan al-Nukhaylah) and remained there in the night.[10]
  • (7 ,8 and 9) February: The Iraqi government sent the Republican Guard forces and some Iraqi army units to Karbala and Najaf to end the demonstrations and riots.[10] They were successful in stopping the protests in Karbala and Najaf governorates[10][11]

The names of the executed demonstrators through revolution court

  1. Jassim Sadiq Al-Irwani
  2. Youssef Sattar Al-Asadi
  3. Muhammed Said Al-Balagy
  4. Najeh Muhammed Karim
  5. Sahib Rahim Abu Kalal
  6. Abbas Hadi Ajenah
  7. Kamil Naji Malo
  8. Gazi Judi Khuwayr

[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "واقعة "خان النُص" في شباط/١٩٧٧". Algardenia. 1 July 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  2. ^ "1 وزراء صدام وانتفاضة خان النص.. مواجهةٌ تاريخية بين سلطات الأمن والثائرين". Iraq Huff Post. May 23, 2020.
  3. ^ "خان النص… تاريخ يتكلم". Alwelayh. 18 April 2017. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
  4. ^ a b "حول زيارة الأربعين وانتفاضة 20 صَفر البطولية عام 1977 م". Alwelayh. 5 October 2020. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  5. ^ "Iraq's failed uprising after the 1979 Iranian revolution". Brookings. March 11, 2019.
  6. ^ "Iraqi protesters are mostly Shiite. And this identity is shaping how they protest". The Washington Post. December 14, 2019.
  7. ^ "AFTER THE WAR; Iraq's Shiite Majority: A Painful History of Revolt and Schism". The New York Times. March 30, 1991.
  8. ^ a b c d "انتفاضة صفر ١٩٧٧.. ملحمة الأبطال في الليل البعثي البهيم". M-Mahdi. 27 September 2018. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  9. ^ "دراسة حول انتفاضة صفر المجيدة عام 1977 ميلادية". Buratha News. 8 March 2007. Retrieved 8 March 2007.
  10. ^ a b c "قمع زيارة الاربعين". Alkafeel. 27 June 2018. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  11. ^ "مدير مركز الأبحاث العقائدية يتحدّث عن انتفاضة صفر سنة 1977". Hawzah News. January 12, 2016.