Rasheed
Encyclopedia
Rasheed or Al Rashid is one of nine administrative districts
in Baghdad
, Iraq
. Located in southern Baghdad, includes the Baiyaa
and Dora
neighborhoods.
It is a predominantly Sunni Muslim area.
, it became well known in the western media during the 1991 Persian Gulf War when CNN
conducted their newscasts from the hotel. Between the Persian Gulf War and the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the building was the main housing facility for wealthy western businessmen and diplomats and the press.
After the invasion, the hotel was converted into a base for the Coalition and the American military. On October 26, 2003 it was subject to a Katyusha rocket attack which killed Lieutenant Colonel Charles H. Buehring and injuring 17 others. A large tile mosaic
depicting George H.W. Bush was installed on the floor of the lobby after the Persian Gulf War. In Arab culture walking over a face is seen as a serious insult and was created with the intent to force any visitors to walk over his face when they entered the hotel. The mosaic was destroyed by U.S. soldiers in 2003.
Administrative districts in Baghdad
There are nine administrative districts in the city of Baghdad, the capital of Iraq, that correspond to the nine district advisory councils. The Baghdad Security Plan used these nine districts as the nine security districts....
in Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
, Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
. Located in southern Baghdad, includes the Baiyaa
Baiyaa
Baiyaa is a middle-class district in western Baghdad, Iraq along the Baghdad Airport Road. It contains separate Sunni and Shiite enclaves within it...
and Dora
Dora (Baghdad)
Dora is a neighborhood in Al Rashid administrative district, southern Baghdad, Iraq. Although this was a majority Christian neighborhood, it became controlled by Sunni Muslim Extremists during the Iraq War...
neighborhoods.
It is a predominantly Sunni Muslim area.
Hotel Al Rasheed
The 18-story Hotel Al-Rasheed is one of the most prominent landmarks, and is frequented by journalists and media personnel. Named after Harun Al-RashidHarun al-Rashid
Hārūn al-Rashīd was the fifth Arab Abbasid Caliph in Iraq. He was born in Rey, Iran, close to modern Tehran. His birth date remains a point of discussion, though, as various sources give the dates from 763 to 766)....
, it became well known in the western media during the 1991 Persian Gulf War when CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
conducted their newscasts from the hotel. Between the Persian Gulf War and the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the building was the main housing facility for wealthy western businessmen and diplomats and the press.
Mosaic
Mosaic is the art of creating images with an assemblage of small pieces of colored glass, stone, or other materials. It may be a technique of decorative art, an aspect of interior decoration, or of cultural and spiritual significance as in a cathedral...
depicting George H.W. Bush was installed on the floor of the lobby after the Persian Gulf War. In Arab culture walking over a face is seen as a serious insult and was created with the intent to force any visitors to walk over his face when they entered the hotel. The mosaic was destroyed by U.S. soldiers in 2003.