Mahabad

Quick Facts

• Region: Northwestern Iran
• Governorate/Province: West Azerbaijan Province
• Elevation: 1,302 m
• Population (year): 168,393 (2016 census)

Overview

Mahabad is a city in West Azerbaijan Province, Iran, lying south of Lake Urmia in a narrow valley. The city is predominantly Kurdish and has long been a center of Kurdish political and cultural life.

It gained international attention as the capital of the short-lived Republic of Mahabad in 1946.

History and Culture

The Republic of Mahabad was declared in 1946 under the leadership of Qazi Muhammad and lasted less than a year. The city has also produced many Kurdish writers and translators, contributing to Kurdish literary culture.

Sites and Landmarks

The plain around Mahabad contains a number of unexcavated tells (mounds), reflecting the deep antiquity of settlement in the region.

Notable People

Qazi Muhammad, leader of the Republic of Mahabad, was born in Mahabad. The renowned translator Mohammad Ghazi also hailed from the city.

Population

Population (2016): 168,393.