Ta'izz

Government

Taiz, Ta ʿ izz occasionally, Taiz or Tais (Arabic تعز ) is a city in Yemen with about 590,000 inhabitants (calculated as of 2012). Taiz is located in the homonymous province, whose capital it is.

Geography

The city of Taiz located in the highlands of Yemen at an altitude of 1370 meters. It is located in the southern regions of Yemen, between Aden and Sanaa, but also has links to ports on the Red Sea, al - Hudaydah and mocha.

History

Under the Ayyubids and the Rasulids Taiz was one of the main cities in Yemen. This led to a strong construction activity. So the Aschrafiyya mosque was built under the Rasulids. Ibn Battuta reported in the 14th century of a thriving city.

In the 16th century the city was several times occupied by the Ottomans. At this time there should have been at the place an important Islamic educational institution.

In 1763, the explorer Carsten Niebuhr held on in the city for half a month.

In October 1811 near the town of German travelers Ulrich Jasper SEETZEN who was with 17 heavily laden camels on the way to the port city of Mocha, found dead.

Under Ahmad ibn Yahya (1948-1962), the city was the last time residence and capital in northern Yemen.

As part of the protests in Yemen 2011 Taiz in 2011 was a center of resistance against the authorities in Yemen. In September and October Taiz was regularly the scene of fighting between government soldiers and armed tribal fighters. On October 5, died in a battle with mortars seven people.

Economy

Taiz is the center of coffee cultivation. Furthermore, there are textile and jewelery industries and tanneries. An important transport links to the airport Taiz, both for national and international flight connections.

Attractions

The town consists of a variety of old neighborhoods. In typical brick construction the private houses waiting for. Among the mosques usually held in white paint the above mentioned Aschrafiyya, as well as the Muctabiya and Mudhaffar are particularly noteworthy. Likewise, the old citadel and the governor's palace, which is located 450 meters above the city on a mountain peak.

The city has a Muslim madrasa that even persecuted university claims.