Sulaymaniyah

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Sulaymaniyah (Template:Lang-ar as-sulaymānīyä; Kurdish: Slêmanî, formerly: Sharezûr) is a city in the southeast of greater Kurdistan (the Kurdish-speaking region of the Middle East). It is situated in the northeast of Iraq, and is the capital of Sulaymaniyah province, part of the Kurdish Autonomous Region (Kurdistan Region in the new Iraqi Constitution [1]).

It was founded in 1786 by a Kurdish prince known as Ibrahim Pasha Baban who named it for his father Sulaiman Pasha (Sulaiman is the Islamic version of the name Solomon). Since being founded as the capital of a powerful Kurdish principality it has grown to about 800000 people. It is the cultural centre of the Sorani-speaking Kurds and an important economic centre for Iraqi Kurdistan; it is also known for its strong economic ties with Iran. Since liberation in 1991, it has been administered by Kurdish authorities and serves as one of the regional capitals of the Kurdistan Regional government (KRG). the city is fast becoming a tourist attraction for Iraqis and other middle Easterners due to its relative prosperity, security and undeniable natural beauty.

1 Religious significance
2 Kurdish Culture in Sulaimaniya
- 2.1 Kurdish writers of 19th century
- 2.2 Kurdish writers of 20th century
3 Statistics
4 See also

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Religious significance

Sulaymaniyah was the city Bahá'u'lláh, prophet of the Bahá'í Faith, came to live in during his sojourn to the mountain of Sar-Galú in Kurdistan.

Still pursuing a solitary existence in the mountains near the city, a certain Shaykh Isma'il, leader of the Khalidiyyih Order, visited Bahá'u'lláh and succeeded in obtaining his consent to transfer his residence to the city of Sulaymaniyah (Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By, p. 121). It was here that word spread to Baghdad, that a stranger, a Persian, renowned for his wisdom and learning appeared in that city. His family and friends recognized that this could be none other than Bahá'u'lláh, and the petition of all secured his return to Baghdad.

Slemani

Dukan Lake

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Kurdish Culture in Sulaimaniya

Sulaimaniya is considered as the center of the Sorani Kurdish culture in Kurdistan. Development of Sorani as a modern literary language started in this city around early 19th century.

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