Shekhan District
District in Iraq
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Shekhan District (Arabic: قضاء شيخان, Kurdish: قەزای شێخان, romanized: Qeza Şêxan) is a district in the Nineveh Governorate with its administrative centre at Ain Sifni.[2][1] The district is disputed between Duhok Governorate and Nineveh Governorate, therefore it is one of the disputed territories of northern Iraq.[3]
Şêxan
District
قضاء شيخان قەزای شێخان | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Interactive map of Şêxan
District | |
| Country |  Iraq |
| Governorate | Nineveh Governorate (de jure), Duhok Governorate (de facto) |
| founded | December 16, 1924 |
| Seat | Ain Sifni |
| Area | |
• Total | 1,259 km2 (486 sq mi) |
| Population (2003)WFP program estimation[1] | |
• Total | 90,590 |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (AST) |
It is bordered by the Amadiya and Dahuk Districts of the Dahuk Governorate to the north, the Akre District to the east, Al-Hamdaniya District to the south, and the Tel Kaif District to the west. Baadre, considered the political capital of the Yazidis, is also in this district.
History
The Shekhan District was formed on December 16, 1924.[1] After the 1935 Yazidi revolt, the district was placed under military control.[4][5]
Demographics
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 36,427 | — |
| 1987 | 54,559 | +49.8% |
| 2003 | 90,590 | +66.0% |
| Source: [1] | ||
It is mainly populated by Yazidis with a large Assyrian Christian minority.[6]
