As the
above picture of the Iraqi Flag indicates a tricolor of Red,
Black and white
The description of
the Iraq Flag is as follows:
Three equal
horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black
Three green
five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white
band
The phrase ALLAHU
AKBAR (God is Great) in green Arabic script - Allahu to the
right of the middle star and Akbar to the left of the middle
star - was added in January 1991 during the Persian Gulf crisis
According to
Ancient and Heraldic traditions much symbolism is associated
with colors. The colors on the Iraqi flag represent the
following:
White -
peace and honesty
Red -
hardiness, bravery, strength & valour
Black -
Determination
The
basic style shown in the picture of the Iraqi flag is
described as Emblem - reflecting the
central design of the flag pattern
All Flag
pictures depict flags flying, from the viewer's point of view,
from left to right
The shape and flag ratio of the Iraqi flag is described as 2:3 ( length 1½ times the
height )
The Meaning & History of the Iraqi Flag
The original text on
the Iraqi flag was from the Ba'ath party motto, "Wihda, Hurriyah,
Ishtirrakiyah" (Unity, Freedom, Socialism)
The decision to replace the words
with"Allahu Akbar" (God is Great) on the Iraqi flag was made by Saddam Hussein
It is believed that the words on the Iraqi flag
are in Saddam Hussein's own handwriting
The current
Iraqi national flag was adopted on January 14, 1991
Flag
Terminology - Did you Know ?
The design and description
uses specific flag terminology based on Heraldic principles
Animal blazons should always appear
with the heads facing the flag - staff side
The Study of the Flags is called
Vexillology
Your interest in flags makes you a
Vexillologist!
Increase your knowledge - Play the
Flag Quiz
Flag History &
Evolution:
The idea of
flying a flag grew from the requirements of ancient warfare and
the battlefield
Shields were
painted with emblems to identify Friend or Foe
Warriors
needed to know where their leaders were - the custom of carrying
a pole was adopted
An emblem
such as a shield, animal or religious device was attached to the
pole for identification
The emblems
were also used for identity and to cover suits of armour - Coats
of Arms were born
These
emblems were the forerunners of modern flags
The Romans
were the first to use a cloth flag - they were square and
fastened to cross bars at the end of spears - the idea of
fastening a flag to the side of a pole soon followed
The strict
rules of Heraldry are still used when designing an emblem and
creating a modern flag
Iraqi
Flag Etiquette
Iraqi Flag etiquette is very strict and is is
essential that Flag protocols and rules are followed correctly
Basic Flag
Etiquette applies to all nations, including Iraqi as follows:
Etiquette relating to the order of
precedence for the flag
National Flag of
Iraqi
State Flag of Iraqi
Military Flag of
Iraqi (in order of creation date)
Other Flag of Iraqi
The United Nations uses alphabetical order
when presenting a national flag including the Iraqi Flag. Their flag etiquette ensures
that no one country's flag has precedence over another country's
flag
The National flag of
Iraqi should never be flown
above another national flag on the same staff as this would
suggest superiority, or conversely, inferiority of one flag, or
Nation, over another
The Iraqi flag should never be allowed to drag
along the ground
A tattered or faded flag of
Iraqi should be removed
and replaced with a new flag
Due care and
consideration must be taken to ensure that the Iraqi flag is
always
flown the correct way up
A Flag of Iraqi, when in such
condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem of display,
should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning in
private with all due care and respect
Terminology & Etiquette in Iraqi Flag display
Hoist - the
act or function of raising the Iraqi flag, as on a rope
Half Staff
or Half Mast - the Iraqi flag is hoisted to half of the potential
height of the flag pole to denote grief and mourning
Performed
by first raising the Iraqi flag to the top, then lowering the
Iraqi Flag halfway
Distress -
denoted by flying the Iraqi flag upside-down
Manner of
hoisting - The Iraqi flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered
ceremoniously
No
disrespect should be shown to the Iraqi flag
The Iraqi flag
should never be fastened, displayed, used, or stored in such a
manner as to permit the Flag to be easily torn, soiled, or damaged in
any way
The Iraqi
flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it,
nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure,
design, picture, or drawing on the flag of any nature
The
Iraqi flag should be hoisted first and lowered last
International Flag relating to Iraqi
Flag usage forbids the
display of the flag of one nation above that of another nation
in time of peace
We hope that the presentation of facts and
information regarding Iraqi Flag Etiquette has provided a useful
resource
Iraq
Location:
Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf,
between Iran and Kuwait
Iraqi Land Size :
432,162 sq km
Iraqi Climate / Weather
: mostly desert; mild to cool winters with dry, hot,
cloudless summers; northern mountainous regions along Iranian
and Turkish borders experience cold winters with occasionally
heavy snows that melt in early spring, sometimes causing
extensive flooding in central and southern Iraq
Iraqi Population :
25,374,691 (July 2004 est.)
Iraqi Capital City:
Baghdad
Iraqi GDP: $38.79
billion (2003 est.)
Iraqi Main Industries :
petroleum, chemicals, textiles, construction materials, food
processing
Iraqi Currency :
New Iraqi dinar (NID) as of 22 January 2004
Main Colors of the
Iraqi Flag :
Red, Black and white
Concise History of
Iraq & its Flag
3500 BC
Mesopotamia, known as the world's first civilization, developed
in South Eastern Iraq
539 BC
Mesopotamia was conquered by the Persians
332 BC
Alexander the Great conquers the Persians
226 AD The
Persian Sassanid dynasty took control of Mesopotamia
126 BC The
Greek rule ended when the Parthians established control of Iraq
633AD Arab
Muslims conquer the Sassanids and Iraq
750 The
Abbasids conquer the Islamic world. Baghdad was founded as the
capital
1258
Mesopatamia and its capital Baghdad falls to Mongol invaders led
by the grandson of Genghis Khan. The Arab Empire was destroyed
1500s The
Ottoman Empire conquers the region
1700s The
Ottoman power in Mesopotamia begins to decline
1800s Great
Britain becomes involved with Mesapotamia needing to protect
their trade routes with India and the East
1914-1918
World War I
1917 British
troops occupy Baghdad
1920 The
League of Nations give Great Britain a mandate to rule over
Mesopotamia
1920 The San
Remo Peace Conference of Allied Powers. Mesopotamia is renamed
Iraq
1921 The
British set up King Faisal I as the monarch and control
the government
1925 The
League of Nations sets the border between Turkey and Iraq which
places the Mosul region in Iraq rather than Turkey against the
wishes of the Kurdish population
1932 Iraq
become independent
1937 April
28 - Saddam Hussein was born
1939 WW11
breaks out
1940-1941
The Iraqi government allies with Germany, Italy and Japan
seeking to rid Iraq of British power and influence
1941 Great
Britain defeat Iraq
1945 End of
WW11 and Iraq helps to form the Arab League
1948 The
Arab League declares war against the newly formed Israel
1950-1952
Iraq signs agreements with foreign oil companies and receives
50% of the oil profits
1953 Faisal
II became king of Iraq
1950s Many
Iraqis began to oppose the monarchy. They wanted a say in the
government
1955 Iraq
signed the Baghdad Pact with Iran, Pakistan, and Turkey
1958 Iraq
becomes a republic during a military coup and the monarchy is
killed
1979 Saddam
Hussein succeeds Al-Bakr as Iraqi President
1980 Iraq invades Iran
17 January 1991 A coalition of 39 countries begin bombing Iraq
starting the Persian Gulf War
This information focuses on the history of Iraq and does not
address modern-day events
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In just a short period of time this
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The
Iraqi Flag and Nation
We hope that the presentation of facts
and information regarding the Iraqi Flag and Country has
provided a useful educational resource. To improve your
knowledge of Flags and Vexillology still further check out the
Flags and Nations Index and test your knowledge with our
interactive, multi-choice, picture-based Flag Trivia Quiz Game - it's fast and
it's fun! If you answer all questions correctly you will earn the
right to enter the Vexillologist Hall of Fame!
