Karrada

Karrada
Neighborhood
Country	Iraq
City	Baghdad
Formed	1880s
Government
• Type	Neighborhood Council

Karrada (Arabic: كرّادة Karrāda) is an upper-class district of the city of Baghdad, Iraq. It has a mixed population of Muslims and Christians, as well as foreigners. One of the most religiously diverse areas, it is one of the two major districts of the Christian community in Baghdad, along with Dora. Karrada is bordered by Al-Jadriya, Zayouna and Bataween.

The Tigris River divides the district in two parts. One part is on the Karakh side and is called “Karada Maryam,” where the heavily fortified “Green Zone” is located. The other part is on Rusafa side and is called “Eastern Karada.” All the Christians of the district congregate in Inner Karrada, where most of the churches are located, with congregations of Chaldeans, Assyrians, Melkite Greeks, and Armenian Catholics. A small group of Jews also lived, whose numbers have dropped since 2003. Foreigners, diplomats, and expat workers are concentrated in Arsat al-Hindiyah.

Karrada has two sub-districts, being Nazaith and Masbah. Karrada is on the northern part of the peninsula, which was created by a sharp turn in the Tigris river. As a result, the district has many of the waterfront properties, making it a desirable and expensive district. Today it is one of the most affluent and posh neighborhoods of Baghdad.

History

Karrada is an ancient irrigation method derived from the Kurdish language, meaning the animal used to draw water. The term originates from the Kurdish word "Kard," which means "to pull," and is associated with heavy animals like oxen and bulls. The person operating these animals is called the "Karrad." This technique was utilized in areas of Baghdad such as Karrada Sharqiya, Karrada Sayyed Idris, and Karrada Slaikh. In other regions, the term has also been used to refer to vegetable farming.

Establishment and formation

The history of Karrada dates back to the Abbasid era in the eighth century AD, when it was part of ancient Baghdad. Until now, Al-Karrada is one of the most crowded and interesting areas in Baghdad, but it has suffered from the turbulent political and security events in the country recently. Eastern Karrada is considered as one of the oldest places in Baghdad. Its history later began from the 19th century, during the time of the Ottoman Empire. The region provided an important source for agricultural goods manufactured in the city.

Historically, Karrada was a small village in 1917 when the British entered Baghdad. It housed a few grand mansions belonging to wealthy Baghdadis, with the rest of the dwellings being modest mud-brick homes for farmers. The village was named Al-Karada because its inhabitants irrigated their orchards using water-drawing devices called karood.

In Karrada, markets were limited, consisting of scattered shops with small clusters of five or fewer stores. By the 1940s, commercial centers expanded with new marketplaces and shops. By 1944, buses replaced traditional horse carts as the main mode of transport. The 1960s saw the rise of public libraries like Al-Kindi Library and Abdullah Ibn Maktoom Library. Karrada Sharqiya Elementary School for Boys was established in 1923, along with schools for girls and other levels of education. In the 1940s, educators like Subhi al-Basam led cultural activities, and artists like Shawkat al-Khuffaf taught art.

Modern era

Since 2003, Al-Karada has become a refuge for displaced individuals from various sects, religions, and ethnicities across Iraq. However, this transformation has had negative aspects, according to local real estate agent Mohammed Yaseen. He told Asharq Al-Awsat: “What happened to Al-Karada after 2003 was akin to an invasion by nouveau riche individuals who acquired wealth through questionable deals. They have encroached upon the area, closing streets and alleys to create their personal Green Zones, while the original residents of Al-Karada have become victims of their failed policies.”

14th of July Bridge passes the district, 25 October 2003

The 14th of July Bridge reopened for the first time since the fall of Saddam's regime after a ribbon-cutting ceremony held on 25 October 2003. It serves as a major transportation artery which allows access to the northwestern part of Baghdad. Curiously, nobody thought of changing its name, which celebrates the inception of Baathist rule. Baghdad's first suspension bridge links the Karkh and Karadah districts on the north and south sides of Baghdad. It was damaged during the first Gulf War, but was never repaired by the former regime.

Realizing it was unsafe for use, the Coalition forces closed the bridge when they entered Baghdad in April 2003. The newly repaired bridge will alleviate traffic build-up and allow drivers a direct route across the Tigris River. When the bridge was closed, people had to spend an extra twenty minutes to drive around the river. A bomb attack in central Baghdad on 13 November 2003 prompted the coalition to close the Bridge. The 14th of July Street (Arbataash Tamuz Street) which runs over the 14th of July Bridge (Arbataash Tamuz Bridge) runs between the Presidential Palace and the New Presidential Palace, both of which are in use by the Coalition Provisional Authority. Closing the Bridge would seal a potential point of access into the heart of the Green Zone.

The district of Karrada has had multiple terrorist attacks over the years, which occurred in part to the presence of its large Shia and Christian population and wealth. The area is relatively free from sectarianism otherwise, with the actual people of the district coexisting quite well. The airline Al-Naser Airlines has its head office in Karrada, in an area next to Al Jadirya Private Hospital. On 3 July 2016, an ISIL terrorist attack in the area killed 347 civilians on one of the last evenings marking the end of Ramadan. Eastern Karrada has a Shi'ite majority. It has become a stronghold for the most important Shiite parties and forces, such as the Supreme Islamic Council of Iraq, the Badr Organization, and the Sadrist Movement. However, in the past two years, it has begun to attract many forces, factions, and armed militias, such as Kata’ib Hezbollah, Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq, Thar Allah, Kata’ib Abu al-Fadl al-Abbas, and others.

The East Karrada district of Baghdad, Iraq, faces many housing problems. The area is densely populated, leading to overcrowding and inadequate living conditions. Many homes in this area were damaged during the Iraq War and have not been fully repaired. Additionally, there is a lack of proper sanitation facilities and access to clean water, contributing to poor living conditions. The housing shortage in East Karrada is also due to the influx of people moving to the area from other parts of Iraq, in search of better job opportunities and a higher standard of living. These factors combined make it difficult for many residents to find adequate housing and living conditions in East Karrada.

Economy

While it used to include the largest palaces in Baghdad for its wealthy families in the past, today it includes the offices and homes of the most influential officials, ministers, party leaders and representatives, such that some parts of it have been transformed into small green areas surrounded by concrete barriers and checkpoints. The area is home to several major oil and gas companies, as well as numerous construction companies working on projects throughout the region. Additionally, there are several petrochemical plants in the area that process and produce chemicals from natural gas. The district is distinguished by the presence of many shops, cafes, restaurants and shopping centers.

Karrada shares the peninsula with Al-Jadriya district. It is a small district which lies at the southern tip of the peninsula, where the Tigris River makes its major turn and heads to the northeast. Its significance comes from its quality of life, and its real estate is, along with Karrada, some of the most expensive in Baghdad. Along with the Al-Mansour district on the Karkh side of Baghdad, Karrada considered one of the most upscale districts in the capital. The design and building of the University of Baghdad in 1958 also added to its value since the University has become one of the most important locations in the city, and its campus takes up the entire right half of the district. The university campus was designed by Walter Gropius, AIA, Louis Mcmillen and Robert McMillan of The Architects Collaborative. There is one subdistrict of the city: Babil, likely named for the Babylon Hotel that has its location in the district.

Landmarks

Shopping malls

• Maximall — It is one of the first shopping malls opened in Baghdad.
• A new hotel is under construction

Places of worship

• Sayidat al-Nejat Cathedral (Arabic: كاتدرائية سيدة النجاة) is one of the largest cathedrals in Iraq. It was designed by a Polish man named Kafka with the help of the Romaya engineering agency. The cathedral was opened on March 17, 1968, in the presence of various bishops of the Christian communities in Iraq. After the fall of president Saddam Hussein in 2003, the cathedral was among the many churches that were bombed and was a part of the 2004 attacks on churches. The church was subject of attack by ISIS in 2010, which gained global attention.
• Sayyid Idris Shrine is a shrine
• 17th of Ramadan Mosque is a large mosque located in eastern Karrada, opposite al-Firdos Square, in front of the Ishtar Hotel. It was built during the royal era. The mosque contains a large chapel that can accommodate more than 2,500 worshipers. It was the site during the fall of Baghdad in 2003, where a statue of Saddam Hussein was toppled by his opponents.

Others

• Al Sard HQ
• National Library

Residents

• Tariq Aziz (1936–2015), former Deputy Prime Minister of Iraq
• Yousif Abba (b. 1951), current archbishop of Baghdad

Gallery

• 
  Dijlah Village
• 
  Abu Nawas Street
• 
  Karrada Harij

See also

• Kulwatha