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Morek موركMurak, Murik
Town
MorekLocation in Syria
Coordinates: 35°22′31″N 36°41′14″E / 35.37528°N 36.68722°E / 35.37528; 36.68722
Country	Syria
Governorate	Hama
District	Hama
Subdistrict	Suran
Population
• Total	14,307
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (EEST)
City Qrya Pcode	C3029

Morek (Arabic: مورك, romanized: Mūrik, also spelled Murik, Mork, or Murak) is a town in central Syria, administratively part of the Suran Subdistrict of Hama District, about 25 kilometers (16 mi) northeast of Hama city. It is on the M5 highway, which connects Hama with Aleppo.

According to the Syria Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), Morek had a population of 14,307 in the 2004 census. Its inhabitants are Sunni Muslims. Morek is the center of the country's pistachio production.

History

Murik contains the ruins, including mosaics, of a 5th-century Byzantine church, similar to those found in nearby Qamhana and Taybet al-Imam.

Ottoman period

In 1818, due to the impoverished state of its inhabitants, Morek was partially exempted from taxes. In a tax record from that year, the village consisted of 23 feddans, paid the relatively small amount of 1,100 qirsh in taxes but also was extorted to pay 4,720 qirsh by the mutasallim of Hama, Faraj Agha, who was dismissed from his post for corrupt practices.

In 1838, its inhabitants were noted to be predominantly Sunni Muslims. In May 1841, amid the chaotic withdrawal of Egyptian forces from Syria, which they had controlled since 1831, Bedouins from the Anaza tribes of Fad'an and Sba'a raided Morek, kidnapping a boy and stealing numerous livestock from the inhabitants.

French Mandatory period

In the early 20th century, during French Mandatory rule, Morek's 300 small landowners were split between two disputing factions. They sought arbitration from the notables of Hama city, who thereupon took ownership of two-thirds of the village's lands. The inhabitants of Morek were Sunni Muslim Arabs of Bedouin origin.

Syrian Civil War

During the Syrian civil war the city was the site of the Battle of Morek. By 2018 it was under the control of Hayat Tahrir al Sham and had become the sight of an important crossing point from rebel held areas into those held by the Syrian government. On August 12, 2018 the Syrian Arab Army closed that crossing in preparation for their assault on rebel held territory in the region. The Turkish government had also deployed special forces to Morek in preparation for the SAA's anticipated advance on the Idlib region. The anticipated advance was averted by a de-militarization agreement signed between Russia and Turkey in September 2018. By May 2019 a group called Jaysh al-Izza was stationed in the city and was refusing to allow Russian patrols within the demilitarized zone.

On 20 August, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the rebel and Islamic factions including jihadi groups like Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) had completely withdrawn from Morek in the northern countryside of Hama. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said that the Turkish troops were staying at the Turkish observation post in Morek.

Turkey withdrew from its base in Morek on 19 October 2020. On 30 November 2024, HTS rebels captured the city from the Syrian Army during the Hama offensive.

References

1. ^ Jouejati-Madwar 2005, pp. 775–776.
2. "Rebels take key north Hama town on M5 highway". Syria Direct. 5 November 2015. Retrieved 2019-09-07.
3. "General Census of Population 2004". Retrieved 2014-07-10.
4. "World Not Going Nuts for Syrian Pistachios".
5. Douwes & Lewis 1992, p. 277.
6. Douwes 2000, p. 224.
7. Smith, in Robinson and Smith, 1841, vol 3, 2nd appendix, p. 178
8. Douwes 2000, p. 42, note 80.
9. Comité de l'Asie française 1933, pp. 132, 134.
10. ^ Aboufadel, Leith (2018-08-12). "Syrian military closes strategic crossings in preparation for Hama offensive". AMN.
11. "Cards Held by Turkey in Idlib". Enab Baladi. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
12. "From the West, Battles Draw a New Map for Idlib". Enab Baladi. May 13, 2019. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
13. "Fearing to fall in a complete siege, the factions and jihadi groups withdraw from Khan Shaykhun city and towns and villages south of it in the northern countryside of Hama". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (in Arabic). 20 August 2019.
14. swissinfo.ch, S. W. I.; Corporation, a branch of the Swiss Broadcasting. "Syrian army captures Hama rebel pocket in northwest - state media". SWI swissinfo.ch. Retrieved 2019-09-07.
15. "Turkey withdraws from base in northwest Syria, sources say". Reuters. 19 October 2020. Archived from the original on October 20, 2020.
16. "Syrian army withdraws from Hama as rebels push toward Homs". Türkiye Today. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
17. ""The Authority" controls Aleppo International Airport and many cities and towns in the northern Hama countryside amid a complete collapse of the regime forces" (in Arabic). SOHR. 30 November 2024. Retrieved 30 November 2024.

Bibliography

• Comité de l'Asie française (April 1933). "Notes sur la propriété foncière dans le Syrie centrale (Notes on Landownership in Central Syria)". Bulletin du Comité de l'Asie française (in French). 33 (309). Comité de l'Asie française: 130–136.
• Douwes, Dick; Lewis, Norman N. (1992). "Taxation and Agriculure in the Hama District, 1800–1831: New Material from the Records of the Religious Court". In Philipp, Thomas (ed.). The Syrian Land in the 18th and 19th Centuries. Stuttgart: Franz Steiner. pp. 261–284. ISBN 3-515-05685-8.
• Douwes, Dick (2000). The Ottomans in Syria: A History of Justice and Oppression. I.B. Tauris. ISBN 1860640311.
• Jouejati-Madwar, Rafah (2005). "A Mosaicists' Workshop in Epiphania (Hama, Syria) at the Beginning of the 5th Century". La mosaïque gréco-romaine. IX–Colloque international pour l'étude de la mosaïque antique (9th: 2001: Rome, Italy) Volume 2. Rome: École Française de Rome. pp. 775–784.
• Robinson, E.; Smith, E. (1841). Biblical Researches in Palestine, Mount Sinai and Arabia Petraea: A Journal of Travels in the year 1838. Vol. 3. Boston: Crocker & Brewster.

v t e Hama Governorate
Hama District Hama Subdistrict Hama Abu Dardah Abu Mansaf Adabas al-Alamein Amarat Aslan Arzah Awja al-Janah Ayyo Bahra Bayad Besirin al-Buraq Billin al-Daminah Ghawr al-Assi al-Hashimiyah Hawayiz Umm Jurn Hawir al-Salib Jajiyah Jarjara Jarjisa Jibrin Jinan Jumaqliyah Juziyah Kafraa Kafr Amim Kafr Buhum Kafr al-Tun Kassun al-Jabal al-Khula al-Khalidiyah Khitab Maar Daftein Maarin al-Jabal Maar Shuhur al-Mubattan Madbaa Maqtaa al-Hajar Matnin Mubarakat Muraywid al-Narjis al-Nazaza Qamhana Qubaybat al-Assi al-Rabiaa Raabun al-Ruqaita Safinah Samrah Sawa Shihat Hama Shiraaya Surayhin Suwak al-Shamali al-Suwayda al-Gharbiyah al-Suwayda al-Sharqiyah Taqsis Tayzin Tishrin Tuwaym Tell al-Nahr Tell Qartal Umm al-Amad Umm al-Tuyour Zabada Zor Abu Dardah Zor al-Sarmiyah Zor Taqsis Hirbnafsah Subdistrict Hirbnafsah Aqrab Akrad Ibrahim Baja Birin Bisin al-Biyah Bulous Deir al-Fardis al-Humayri Jidrin al-Jafiah Kafr Qadah Khirbet Aref Khirbet al-Jami Khirbet al-Qasr al-Muah Musa al-Houla Qufaylun al-Rawda Suma'ah Talaf al-Tulaysiyah al-Janubiyah Toumin Zara'a Suran Subdistrict Suran Atshan Buwaydah Fan Shamali al-Junaynah Kawkab Khafsin Khirbet al-Hajama Lahaya Maardis Maarkaba Ma'an Masasneh Murak Qasr Abu Samrah Qasr al-Makhram Qubaybat Abu al-Huda Shatheh Taybat al-Imam Taybat al-Ism al-Tulaysiyah Umm Haratayn Zor Abu Zayd Zor al-Haysa al-Sharqiyah Hamraa Subdistrict Al-Hamraa Abu Ajwa al-Ala al-Anz Arfa Aziziyah Baroudiyah Bayud Dali Duma Fayda Halabiyah Huways Ibn Hadib Haymaniyah al-Hazim Janat al-Sawarnah Jubb al-Uthman Jubb al-Safa Junaynah Jadduah Shamaliyah Kharsan Maaloula Muwaylah al-Sirwana Maar Shamali Qanater Qasr Ali Qasr Ibn Wardan Rabda Rasm Anz Rasm al-Daheriyah Rasm al-Ward Ruhayyah Shihat al-Hamraa al-Samaqiyah al-Qibliyah Suruj Tarfawi Tharwat Tulayhat Tuwal Dabaghin Umm Habes Umm Turaykat al-Qibliyah Umm Zahmak al-Zughbah
Al-Suqaylabiyah District Al-Suqaylabiyah Subdistrict Al-Suqaylabiyah Abr Bayt Sayf Abu Klifun Ammurin Anab Ayn al-Kurum Ayn Waridah Ballunah Breij al-Hurra Hawrat Ammurin Hayalin Jurniyat al-Tar Karamah al-Khandaq al-Gharbi al-Khandaq al-Sharqiyah Khansaa Maksar Mashta' al-Shalahmah Nabi al-Tib Qalaat Jaras Rawdat al-Tar al-Rihana Saidiyah Salba Saqiyat Najm Shahta al-Shajar Tahunat al-Halawa Tell Kumbatri Tell al-Titeen Uwaynah Shathah Subdistrict Shathah Ayn Jurjin Farikah Haydariyah Jubb al-Ghar Jurin Mashta Mahfuz Maradash Na'ur Jurin Nubl al-Khatib Qatrat al-Rihan Rihana Tell Salhab Subdistrict Tell Salhab Abu Qubays Abu Faraj Al-Asharinah Birat al-Jabal Ayn al-Jurn Hawayeq Hawr al-Mawsil Kanayes al-Kashati Khareb al-Latma Mazhal Nahr al-Bared Ras al-Jurn Tamaza Tubah Ziyarah Subdistrict Al-Ziyarah al-Amara al-Amqiyah Tahta al-Ankawi Awja al-Tuba al-Bahsa Barakah Duqmaq Duwayr al-Akrad Ayn al-Hamaam Fawru Khirbet al-Naqus Mansura Maarana Mashik al-Qahira Qarqur Qastal al-Burayj Qastun Qulaydin al-Safsafa Sirmaniyah al-Sindiyana Tell Wasit Zayzun al-Zaqum Qalaat al-Madiq Subdistrict Qalaat al-Madiq Ashrafiyah al-Bani al-Aziziyah Bab al-Taqa al-Barid Deir Sunbul al-Huwayz al-Huwayz al-Shamali al-Hamra al-Hawash al-Humayrat al-Hurriyah Hawijah Fauqa Hawijah Sayyad Hawijat al-Sallah Jamasat Udayat al-Jayyid Kafr Nabudah al-Karim Kawri al-Kurkat Mastarihat Afamiyah Midan Ghazal Qabr Fidda al-Qahirah Qiratah al-Ramlah al-Rasif Salihiyah Sahariyah Shahranaz al-Sha'irah Tell Huwash Tamana al-Ghab al-Thuwarah al-Tuwayni al-Zitiyah
Masyaf District Masyaf Subdistrict Masyaf Anbura al-Bayda al-Bayyadiyah Biqraqa al-Bustan Biqasqas Deir Huwayt Deir Mama Deir al-Salib al-Findara Hayalin al-Haylunah al-Hurayf Jobet Kalakh Kafr Aqid al-Laqbah Mashta Deir Mama Matna al-Nahda Qabu Shamsiyah Qayrun Qurtuman Rabu al-Rusafa al-Shamsiyah al-Shiha Sighata al-Suwaydah Tayr Jamlah Tayr Jubbah Tell Afar al-Zamaliyah al-Zaynah Awj Subdistrict Awj Akakir Baarin Bishanin Huwayr al-Turukman Kafr Kamra Khirbet Nisaf Khanazir Nisaf Qarmas Qasraya Ta'unah Zor Baarin Ayn Halaqim Subdistrict Ain Halaqim Ayn al-Shams Aq Duqar Asheq Omar Ba'amrah Barshin Bayt Atiq Bayt Natar al-Dulaybah Hermel Hikr Bayt Atiq Kahf al-Habash Khirbet Hazur al-Majawi al-Mashrafah Qasr al-Ayan Tin al-Sabil Jubb Ramlah Subdistrict Jubb Ramlah Alamiyah Asilah Deir Shamil Dimu Hanjur Hizanu Julaymadun Jarajis Kanafu Khan Jalaymadun Maarin Mahrusah Mushashin Qurayyat Qurin Sarmiyah Sulukiyah Uqayrabah Zahraa Zawi Wadi al-Uyun Subdistrict Wadi al-Uyun Ammuriyah Ayn al-Bayda Ayn Farraj Ayn al-Karam Bashawi Bayt Raqata Barayzah Bir al-Wadi Birat al-Jurd Duwayr al-Mashayekh Jabita Kafr Laha Kamaliyah Marha Maysara Naqir Qussiyah al-Sindiyana Tamarqiyah Zaytuna
Mahardah District Mahardah Subdistrict Mahardah Abu Ubaydah Abu Rubays al-Arid Halfaya Huwat al-Judaydah Kafr Hud Khirbet Subin Khunayzir Maarzaf (al-Qubeir) al-Majdal Shaizar Shir Safsafiyah Tell Malah Tell Sikkin Tremseh Zilaqiat Zawr al-Qaadah Kafr Zita Subdistrict Kafr Zita Arba'in Hamamiyat Latmin al-Sayyad al-Zakah Karnaz Subdistrict Karnaz al-Asman al-Jalamah Jubbayn al-Lataminah al-Mughayr Shaykh Hadid
Salamiyah District Salamiyah Subdistrict Salamiyah Ali Kasun Bardunah Buwaydah Dunaybah Danin Duwaybah Fan Qibli Fan Wastani al-Ghawi Halban Jamala al-Kafat Karim Khafiyah Khunayfis Kaytalun al-Malih Marj Mattar Nawa Qablahat Qubbat al-Kurdi al-Rubbah al-Sabil Safawi Samnah Shakara Shaykh Ali Sibaa Shaykh Rih Smakh Sunaydah Tell Ada Tell Dahab Tell Hasan Basha Tell Khaznah Tell Sinan Taldara Tirad Thawra Thayl al-Jal Tiba al-Turki Tuba Tulul al-Humur Umm al-Amad Umm Tuwaynah al-Uwayr Zighrin Barri Subdistrict Barri Sharqi Abu Hanaya Abu Habilat Akash Arshunah Barri al-Gharbi Furaytan al-Hardanah al-Khurayjah Mafkar al-Gharbi Mafkar Sharqi Salam Gharbi Tell al-Tut Tell Jadid Umm Mil Sabburah Subdistrict Sabburah Abu Khanadiq Aqarib Fawrah al-Judaydah Jadduah Jubb Zurayq Jissin Khunayfis al-Dawsa Mabujah Qanafath Qubaybat Salba Samiriyah Shahba Shuhayb Tell Abd al-Aziz Tell al-Ghir Tell al-Shih Umm Khurayzah Uqayribat Subdistrict Uqayribat Abu Dali Abu Hakfa Abu al-Fashafish Bustan al-Subeih Dakhilah Hamada al-Omar Hanutah Haddaj Jani al-Albawi Jubb Abyad Jubb Dakhilah Jayruh Makhbuta Masud Mashrafah Na'imiyah Makaymin Shamali Qastal Rasm al-Abid Rasm Elahmar Rasm al-Bardakana Ruwaydah Suha Tabara al-Hamra Tahmaz Saan Subdistrict Al-Saan Abu Hurayk Abu al-Ghor Abu al-Qusur Amya Aniq Bajra Awja–Qabasin al-Arab al-Ayah Baghadid Harat al-Sharqiyah Hasu al-Qiblawi Ithriya Jakuziyah Jubb Khasara Makharib Mawilah Rahjan Rasm al-Ahmar Rasm Amun Sarha Shaykh Hilal al-Suwayah Umm Mayal

• Towns in Hama Governorate
• Populated places in Hama District