# Bahzani

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> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahzani
> Source revision: 1309517908
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{{Infobox settlement
|name                    = Bahzani
|native_name             = به‌حزانی (Bahzanê)
|native_name_lang        = ku
|settlement_type         = Town
|image_skyline           = Christmas in Bahzani.jpg
|image_caption           = [Christmas](/source/Christmas) in Bahzani
|pushpin_map             = Iraq
|pushpin_map_caption     = Location in Iraq
|mapframe                = yes
|coordinates             = {{coord|36|27|40|N|43|20|19|E|type:city(5000)_region:IQ-NI|display=inline,title}}
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|subdivision_type        = Country
|subdivision_name        = {{flag|Iraq}}
|subdivision_type1       = District
|subdivision_name1       = [Al-Hamdaniya District](/source/Al-Hamdaniya_District)
|subdivision_type2       = Governorate
|subdivision_name2       = [Ninawa Governorate](/source/Nineveh_Governorate)
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'''Bahzani''' ({{langx|ku|به‌حزانی|translit=Bahzanê}},<ref>{{cite news |title=Dengê Kurdistan |url=http://dengekurdistan.nu/details.aspx?an=14706 |accessdate=19 December 2019 |work=dengekurdistan.nu |date=3 August 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=وه‌زاره‌تی پێشمه‌رگه‌ ورده‌كاری كۆنترۆڵكردنه‌وه‌ی باشیك و به‌حزانی روونده‌كاته‌وه‌ |url=https://www.kurdistan24.net/so/news/9fa83709-116d-4dd6-bfce-70b6821a08f1/%D9%88%D9%87%E2%80%8C%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%87%E2%80%8C%D8%AA%DB%8C-%D9%BE%DB%8E%D8%B4%D9%85%D9%87%E2%80%8C%D8%B1%DA%AF%D9%87%E2%80%8C-%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%AF%D9%87%E2%80%8C%D9%83%D8%A7%D8%B1%DB%8C-%D9%83%DB%86%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%B1%DB%86%DA%B5%D9%83%D8%B1%D8%AF%D9%86%D9%87%E2%80%8C%D9%88%D9%87%E2%80%8C%DB%8C-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B4%DB%8C%D9%83-%D9%88-%D8%A8%D9%87%E2%80%8C%D8%AD%D8%B2%D8%A7%D9%86%DB%8C-%D8%B1%D9%88%D9%88%D9%86%D8%AF%D9%87%E2%80%8C%D9%83%D8%A7%D8%AA%D9%87%E2%80%8C%D9%88%D9%87%E2%80%8C |accessdate=19 December 2019 |work=Kurdistan24 |date=9 November 2016 |language=ku}}</ref> {{langx|ar|بحزاني}}), literally from the [Syriac](/source/Syriac_language) words meaning "house of treasure," is a town located in the [Al-Hamdaniya District](/source/Al-Hamdaniya_District) of the [Ninawa Governorate](/source/Nineveh_Governorate) in northern [Iraq](/source/Iraq).

== Population ==
The town of Bahzani, together with its twin village [Bashiqa](/source/Bashiqa), have historically hosted diverse populations. The majority of residents today are [Yazidis](/source/Yazidis), who speak [Arabic](/source/Arabic) as their mother language.<ref>{{Cite web |last=electricpulp.com |title=YAZIDIS i. GENERAL – Encyclopaedia Iranica |url=http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/yazidis-i-general-1 |access-date=2016-09-25 |website=www.iranicaonline.org}}</ref> Other populations include [Assyrians](/source/Assyrian_people), [Shia Muslims](/source/Shia_Islam), [Sunni Muslims](/source/Sunni_Islam), and [Shabaks](/source/Shabaks).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Baashiqa Area Based Assessment - July 2018 - Iraq {{!}} ReliefWeb |url=https://reliefweb.int/report/iraq/baashiqa-area-based-assessment-july-2018 |access-date=2022-08-26 |website=reliefweb.int |date=15 August 2018 |language=en}}</ref>

== History ==
Bahzani is official Iraqi territory but has been claimed by the [Kurdistan Region](/source/Kurdistan_Region) since the fall of [Saddam Hussein](/source/Saddam_Hussein) in 2003. According to Article 140 of the [Iraqi constitution](/source/Constitution_of_Iraq), a referendum should decide whether it continues to be managed by Iraq or by the Kurdish government. Its status is still not fully understood. According to [Human Rights Watch](/source/Human_Rights_Watch), [UNHCR](/source/United_Nations_High_Commissioner_for_Refugees) and other human rights organizations, the townspeople are threatened with violence should they vote against inclusion of the city in the Kurdistan Region.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/128591/PW69.pdf|title=Iraq's Disputed Territories|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=United States Institute of Peace|access-date=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/iraq1109web.pdf|title=On Vulnerable Ground|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=Human Rights Watch (HRW)|access-date=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.refworld.org/pdfid/46deb05557.pdf|title=UNHCR's ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES FOR ASSESSING THE INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION NEEDS OF IRAQI ASYLUM-SEEKERS|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)|access-date=}}</ref>

In August 2014, the town's residents fled for [Iraqi Kurdistan](/source/Iraqi_Kurdistan) following the invasion of the town by [ISIS](/source/Islamic_State). In late 2016, it was liberated along with Bashiqa. Many displaced residents have since returned and rebuilt its Yazidi temples and its church.{{cn|date=May 2018}}

==Yazidi holy sites==
{{see also|List of Yazidi holy places|List of Yazidi saints}}

Bahzani has numerous [Yazidi](/source/Yazidism) shrines, including:<ref name="Kreyenbroek 1995">{{cite book | last=Kreyenbroek | first=Philip | author-link=Philip G. Kreyenbroek | title=Yezidism: its background, observances, and textual tradition | publisher=E. Mellen Press | publication-place=Lewiston NY | year=1995 | isbn=0-7734-9004-3 | oclc=31377794}}</ref>

*Shrine of Ebû Rîsh
*Shrine of Sheikh Bako. The shrine is accompanied by a spring with a fig tree, which is visited by pilgrims with fevers. Pilgrims fasten small bits of their clothes on the tree and feed the fish in the spring.
*Shrine of Sitt Hebîbe, also known as Marta Hebîbta ("the Beloved Lady"; the wife of Sheikh Muhemmed). She also has a shrine near [Bashiqa](/source/Bashiqa).
*Shrine of Mes'ûd
*Shrine of Dayka Jakan

== See also ==
*[Assyrians in Iraq](/source/Assyrians_in_Iraq)
*[Yazidis in Iraq](/source/Yazidis_in_Iraq)
*[Bashiqa](/source/Bashiqa)
*[Nineveh Plains](/source/Nineveh_Plains)

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Nineveh Plains}}

Category:Populated places in Nineveh Governorate
Category:Assyrian communities in Iraq
Category:Yazidi communities in Iraq
Category:Nineveh Plains

{{Iraq-geo-stub}}

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Bahzani](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahzani) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahzani?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.