Zurbatiyah | |
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Coordinates: 33°09′0″N 46°03′0″E / 33.15000°N 46.05000°E | |
Country | ![]() |
Governorate | Wasit |
Municipality | Badra District |
Population (2011) | |
• Total | 22,400 |
Zurbatiyah (Arabic: زرباطية) is a city located in Wasit Governorate, Iraq and is a busy port of entry from Iran. It was previously inhabited by majority Arabs and minority Turkoman up until the late 20th century where Kurds now are a majority.[1][2] The Ottoman treaty of 1639 identifies three settlements as part of the Ottoman empire, being Jassan, Badra and Zurbatiyah.[2] This arrangement left Zurbatiyah on the Ottoman side and rejected the Banu Lam's tenuous assertions to Bayat and Dehloran which split the Arab tribes living there. Feyli Kurds migrated during the 19th century under Safavid Iran.[3] Hursid pasha explains the heightened presence of Feyli Kurds was relatively recent as before the rule of Davud mamluk pasha, Baghdad's governors had oppressed the regions original Arab inhabitants, forcing them to sell land to the Feyli Kurd.
Most of Zurbatiya and Badra were Sunni Shafi'i, with minority Shia Muslims.[4] Their language is unique, noted as being Turkish mixed with Arabic, Kurdish and Persian.[5] It is just across the border from Mehran, Ilam, in Iran. In 1982, there were approximately 6000 inhabitants.[6] In fact, of the settlements referred to in the 1639 Treaty, only Mendeli was a fairly important town, whereas Zurbatiya, Badrai (Badra), and Jassan were villages. Between these places and Muhammarah, they encountered only desert dotted lands.[2]
In the Badra - Zurbatiya area the salinity is generally higher than in the Mandali alluvial fan , usually up to 2-3 or even 4 g / L . This may be due to higher annual precipitation in the Mandali area ( almost 300 mm ) than in the Badra area.[7] The Zurbatiyah port of ref entry, east of Baghdad, is one of Iraq's busiest crossing points. Hundreds of Iranians, mainly pilgrims heading for the Shiite holy cities of Najaf and Karbala, cross the border on foot each day.[8] UAE, China awarded rights to develop oil in Iraq's northeast in 2018.[9]