Rukneddine

Rukun Eldin on the District map of Damaskus

Rukneddine or Rukn al-Din (Arabic: ركن الدين‎‎) is a municipality of Damascus, Syria. In the 2004 census, it had a population of 92,646.[1] It is the historic Kurdish quarter of the city.[2]

History

Originally named after an officer under the command of Saladin, it is the birthplace of renowned Islamic scholar and former Grand Mufti of Syria Sheikh Ahmed Kuftaro, who served at the Abu Nur Mosque in the district[3] and was buried there in 2004.

On 21 March 1986, Kurds seeking to celebrate the Kurdish-Iranian New Year (Newroz) clashed with state security forces intending to prevent any festivities from occurring. One Kurdish youth, who was visiting from the northeastern city of Qamishli, was killed by police.[4]

On 4 May 2015, during the Syrian Civil War, Jabhat al-Nusra fighters on motorcycle committed a suicide attack against security forces in the municipality.[5][6]

Districts

References

  1. ↑ Damascus governorate population 2004 census
  2. ↑ "Kurds of Damascus: Trapped Between Secession and Integration".
  3. ↑ Lund, Aron (5 March 2014). "Damascus Preachers and the Armed Rebellion". Syria In Crisis. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  4. ↑ Tejel, Jordi (2009). Syria's Kurds: History, Politics, and Society. Emily Welle & Jane Welle (translators). Routledge. p. 63.
  5. ↑ "Suicide blast rocks central Damascus".
  6. ↑ "Army officer reported hurt in Damascus suicide bombing; army denies it".

External links

Coordinates: 33°31′51″N 36°17′34″E / 33.53083°N 36.29278°E / 33.53083; 36.29278


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