The role of Atabat-i Aliyat in Ottoman-iran relations under Sultan II. Abdulhamid (Samerra, Kerbela, Kazımmiye, Necef)

Shiite sacred cities of Arab Iraq known as Atabat-e Aliyat (The prominent Shrines) by Shiites, including Najaf-e Ashraf, Karbala, Kazimin and Samerra as the farthest eastern colonies of Ottoman empire as well as population centers of its Shiite minority, enjoying a high role in Ottoman ties with Iran under Abdulhamid II.Historical, cultural and religious common points of this part Ottoman empire with Iranian community along with its nearness to rival and shiite regime of Iran and presence of 6 shiite imams' shrines in above mentioned cities in which the most influencial religious leaders of Iranians and Shiites lived, provided them with material and spritual capacities, important for Ottoman Sultans to condact their foreign policies in case of Iran for which Abdulhamid considered a great role in his Islamic Unity Policy, were all among factors that made them be of crucial importance in the eyes of both Iran and Ottoman Empires. Statesmen of both countries tried to extend their domain influence over them in different ways and make use of their potentials to regulate their mutual political ties. Also presence of some other issues like increasing Shiite population in Iraq in this era, high importance of these cities in Iran's internal political affairs, overwhelming number of Iranian immigrants residing there, rivalry between sunni majority and Shiite minority and mistreatment of Baghdad province local officials with Iranians and Shiites there were among other factors that challenged Iran-Ottoman ties under Abdulhamid II.This discertation tries to shed light on the status of these sacred cities in Iran-Ottoman ties under Abdulhamid the 2nd through using Persian, Turkish and Arabic sources. To achieve this goal, first historical cultural and geographical charactristics of this land are introduced and then we attend the role and importance of them for Iran and Ottoman government sand their impact on the mutual ties.