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Iraq City Profiles
Over the next few months we will add new city profiles for each of the ten
key cities we are praying for in Iraq. Each profile is a two page pdf
which can be downloaded by clicking on the pdf link for each city.
Diwaniya
added 14th December 2007
Diwaniya is in a fertile region of Iraq near to the River Euphrates, between
Baghdad and Basra. Early civilisations can be traced back to 3500BC in the
region. This city of over 400,000 now not only hosts the market for the
region’s agriculture, it is the scene of fierce rivalry between rival
Shi’ite factions seeking control of the city’s affairs – legal and
otherwise. Having suffered violence throughout history, ancient and
modern, does Diwaniya have to put up with another violent chapter, or can
God bring change to this city through our compassion and prayer?
Diwaniya city
profile pdf
Hilla
added 30th November 2007
Hilla is a 900 year old Shi’ite city of half a million people not far south of
Baghdad. It is the capital of Babel province; the site of the ruins of
Babylon; where the Arab armies conquered the Persians 1,400 years ago; a
place from which Shi’a Islam spread throughout Iraq several hundred years
ago; where Saddam massacred thousands in 1991; and more recently the scene
of some of the worst atrocities of the current violence. Hilla needs to be
prayed for.
Hilla city profile pdf
Ramadi
added 16th November 2007
Ramadi, to the west of Baghdad on the road to Syria, was infamous for its
levels of violence, even by Iraq standards, until May of this year. Up to
that point there were reportedly over 30 attacks a day
during 2006 and early 2007. A drive through the city would
leave you shocked by the destruction and desolation. Now things have
changed in an astonishing way and the city of 400,000 seems to have
completely turned around.
Ramadi city profile pdf
Baquba
added 19th October 2007
Baquba, to the north of Baghdad, has been the site of settlements for
thousands of years, yet in February 2007 CNN described this city of
280,000-300,000 people as a "ghost town". The shops are shut and people do
not leave their homes for fear of violence or kidnapping. Some of the
Sunni leaders are now taking a stand against the insurgents, but this has
been met with further violence. People talk of the past days when
different ethnic groups lived together in Baquba. Is reconciliation
possible once more?
Baquba city profile pdf
Kirkuk
added 21st September 2007
Kirkuk is an ethnically mixed city of mostly Kurds, Turkomen and Arabs,
with the mix having changing significantly with massive expulsions and
relocations, such that the city may be twice the size it was only a decade
ago. The claims to the city due to history and to oil make Kirkuk a prized
city, and hence an extremely violent one. If Kirkuk can find peace, then
maybe Iraq can as well.
Mosul
added 6th September 2007
Mosul (Nineveh) is one of the oldest cities in the world, yet its history
is full of violence and destruction. The prophet Jonah was reluctantly
sent to tell the people of Nineveh to repent of their wickedness. In the
thousands of years since then, the city has been invaded and destroyed by
numerous empires of the region. Today the violence continues on a weekly
basis as militants inflict violence and seek to destroy the lives of
others.
Mosul city
profile pdf
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