8vo. 259 pp., Arabic text, b/w photographs, modern half-calf, original wrappers preserved, paper slightly browned, biblio. index, al-Adab Press, Najf, first edition, 1972.

Synopsis

A rare work covering the 1920 revolution in Iraq. Discontent with the British rule which was materialised in May 1920 in mass meetings and demonstrations in Baghdad. The start of the revolution was centred on peaceful protests against the British rule. There were large gatherings at mosques. At one of the larger meetings, 15 representatives were nominated to present the case for Iraqi independence to the British officials. Acting
Civil Commissioner, Arnold Wilson, dismissed their demands as impractical.
Armed revolt broke out in late June 1920. Ayatollah al-Shirazi issued another fatwa which read, “It is the duty of the Iraqis to demand their rights. In demanding them they should maintain peace and order. But if the English prevent them from obtaining their rights, it is permitted to make use of defensive force.” This seemed to encourage armed revolt. The British authorities tried to counter this by arresting a sheikh of the Zawalim tribe. Later, an armed Iraqi stormed the prison and set him free. The revolt soon gained momentum as the British garrisons in the mid-Euphrate region were weak and the armed tribes were much stronger. By late July, the armed tribal rebels controlled most of the mid-Euphrates region. The success of the tribes caused the revolt to spread to the lower Euphrates and all around Baghdad.