1977 Shia uprising in Iraq explained

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 cities.^{[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 protester 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-Irawani
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

• The Five Martyrs
• 1979–1980 Shia uprising in Iraq

Notes and References

1. News: واقعة "خان النُص" في شباط/١٩٧٧. Algardenia. 1 July 2020. 1 July 2020.
2. Web site: May 23, 2020. 1 وزراء صدام وانتفاضة خان النص.. مواجهةٌ تاريخية بين سلطات الأمن والثائرين. Iraq Huff Post. December 21, 2020. October 23, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211023112404/https://iraqhuffpost.com/%D9%88%D8%B2%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D8%B5%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%85-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AA%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%B6%D8%A9-%D8%AE%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%86%D8%B5-%D9%85%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%AC%D9%87%D8%A9%D9%8C-%D8%AA/. dead.
3. News: خان النص… تاريخ يتكلم. Alwelayh. 18 April 2017. 1 April 2017.
4. News: حول زيارة الأربعين وانتفاضة 20 صَفر البطولية عام 1977 م. Alwelayh. 5 October 2020. 5 October 2020. 26 October 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201026102925/https://www.alkawthartv.com/news/252074. dead.
5. Web site: March 11, 2019. Iraq’s failed uprising after the 1979 Iranian revolution. Brookings.
6. Web site: December 14, 2019. Iraqi protesters are mostly Shiite. And this identity is shaping how they protest. The Washington Post.
7. Web site: March 30, 1991. AFTER THE WAR; Iraq's Shiite Majority: A Painful History of Revolt and Schism. The New York Times.
8. News: انتفاضة صفر ١٩٧٧.. ملحمة الأبطال في الليل البعثي البهيم. M-Mahdi. 27 September 2018 . 27 September 2018.
9. News: دراسة حول انتفاضة صفر المجيدة عام 1977 ميلادية. Buratha News. 8 March 2007 . 8 March 2007.
10. News: قمع زيارة الاربعين. Alkafeel. 27 June 2018 . 27 June 2018.
11. Web site: January 12, 2016. مدير مركز الأبحاث العقائدية يتحدّث عن انتفاضة صفر سنة 1977 . Hawzah News.