Maysan Governorate facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Maysan Governorate Arabic: محافظة ميسان
Governorate
Seal
Country	Iraq
Capital	Amarah
Area
• Total	16,072 km2 (6,205 sq mi)
Population  (2018)
• Total	1,112,673
HDI (2017)	0.643 medium

Maysan Governorate (Arabic: ميسان, romanized: Maysān) is a region in southeastern Iraq. It shares a border with Iran. The main city and capital of Maysan is Amarah. The governorate is divided into six smaller areas called districts. Before 1976, this area was known as Amara Province.

What's in a Name?

The name Maysan has a long history. Ancient Greeks called this region Messène. In old Syriac, it was Mayšān. The name also appeared as Mēs̲h̲ān in Middle Persian and Parthian languages. It was known as Mēs̲h̲un in Armenian and Maysān in Arabic.

The name is related to the Kurdish word "mēθhan." It also connects to the Middle Persian "mēhan" and the modern Persian "mihan." All these words mean "homeland."

A Look at Maysan's Past

Maysan has a rich history that goes back thousands of years.

Ancient Times

Around 324 B.C., the famous leader Alexander the Great founded a town here. It was called Charax Spasinu. This town later became the capital of a kingdom known as Characene. Today, you can find the ruins of this ancient city, now called Naysan.

Recent History

The area faced many challenges during the Iran–Iraq War. This war, which happened from 1980 to 1988, turned Maysan into a major battlefield. The region also suffered again after a big uprising in Iraq in 1991.

How Maysan is Governed

Maysan Governorate has a leader called a governor. This person is in charge of running the region.

Governors in the Past

From 1992 to 1994, a military leader named Kamel Sajid was the governor. He was appointed by Saddam Hussein, who was Iraq's president at the time. Kamel Sajid introduced some strong religious policies. For example, he closed places that served alcohol. He also built many mosques across the province. People said he helped the sick and poor. Locals even called him "Abu Omar," comparing him to an old leader known for fairness.

Maysan Today

The current governor of Maysan is Ali Dawai Lazem. He is a supporter of a political group called the Sadrist Movement. As of 2013, he was the only governor in Iraq from this group. Even though he is a Shi'a Muslim, he believes in treating everyone equally. He has said, "It doesn't make a difference if you are Sunni or Shi'ite or Christian. I don't differentiate between anyone." Many people consider him one of Iraq's most popular politicians.

In 2013, The New York Times newspaper praised Governor Dawai's work. They noted that new roads were being built. New sewage systems were also being installed. People in Maysan now get electricity for up to 22 hours a day. This is much more than in the capital city, Baghdad.

List of Governors

Here is a list of some of the people who have served as governor of Maysan:

Picture	Governor		Assumed role	Party
		Kamel Sajit Aziz al-Janabi	1992-1994	Iraqi Baath Party
		Riyadh Mahood al-Muhammadawi	2003	Independent
		Adil Mahwadar Radi	2005	Sadrist Movement
Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani		Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani	2009	State of Law Coalition
		Ali Dawai Lazem	2010	Sadrist Movement

People of Maysan

Most people in Maysan are Shia Arabs. There are also smaller groups of Mandeaens and Christians. The southern part of Maysan has many Mesopotamian Marshes. These wetlands have traditionally been home to a group of people known as Marsh Arabs.

In 2007, about 17% of the people in Maysan were unemployed.

Maysan's Districts

Maysan Governorate is divided into six main districts:

• Ali Al-Gharbi (علي الغربي)
• Amara (العمارة)
• Al-Kahla (الكحلاء)
• Al-Maimouna (الميمونة)
• Al-Mejar Al-Kabi (المجر الكبير)
• Qal'at Saleh (قلعة صالح)

See also

In Spanish: Gobernación de Mesena para niños