Discovery of Oil and Oil Based Environmental Pollution in Ottoman Iraq: The Incident of Mohammarah (1913-1914)

Abstract Oil was first discovered at Masjed-i Suleiman (Iran) in 1908 and subsequently pipelines were constructed to transfer oil from Masjed-i Suleiman to the Persian Gulf. Additionally, an oil refinery was built at Abadan Island (Iran), which is located the opposite side of Basra. Such developments were a sign of the impending danger. Few years after the discovery of oil, Iraq met her first oil-based water pollution. The pollution arose in Braim village, on the Abadan Island, by  sinking of a pontoon , which was loaded 60.000 gallons of oil. The pontoon belonged to Anglo-Persian Oil Company and caused a serious pollution affecting both Dawasir estates, which was one of the most important cultivating lands in Basra, and drinking waters of  Shatt al-Arab  River. In this context, this paper discusses oil-based water pollution around Basra and  Shatt al-Arab in the aftermath of the discovery of oil, dimensions of the risk caused by the pollution and its effects on the local people.  Keywords:  Ottoman Iraq, Basra,  Shatt al-Arab , Anglo-Persian Oil Company,  environmental pollution .