Shammar

The Shammar (Arabic بنو شمر Banū Shammar or Banī Shammar ) are a large Arab tribe of the original Bedouins, who are spread throughout the northern and central Iraq, Syria, and parts of Saudi Arabia.

In Iraq, about half of the Arab population of the Shammar derives, ie about 30 per cent. Some large families have always constituted the elite of the country - both under the Ottomans, the British and under Saddam Hussein. Where the traditional way of life still exists, the Shammar are among the richest and most conservative ethnic groups. For the greater part they are Sunnis, but there are also many Shiites and a small Christian minority.

Jebel Shammar is an area around Ha'il in the north of Saudi Arabia called, where the strain nomadisierte. From him the mother of King Abdullah came. In 1884, the dynasty of Saud was driven by the Shammar from Riyadh and lived 20 years in Kuwait ( see: History of the Shammar ).

Among the Shammar include the Haddedihn that have been received by Karl May in the literature. The fictional character of Hadji Halef Omar called Sheik of Haddedihn the great tribe of the Shammar.

Was elected interim president of Iraq on June 1, 2004, Ghazi al - Yawar an emir of the Shammar.