Peaceful resistance against the British occupation and its role in crystallizing the Twentieth Revolution 1918-1920

This study addresses the passive resistance in Iraq against the British authorities during 1918 – 1920, and its role in crystallization of the twentieth revolution, which began on 30 June 1920, in al-Rumaitha area.
The passive resistance in Iraq against the British authorities during 1918 – 1920 did not receive the attention of researchers in the modern history of Iraq, a majority of previous studies have focused on the Iraqi revolution in 1920, and have considered 30 June 1920 as the date that Iraqi resistance started in the al-Rumaitha region.
Through this study, the researcher has tried to shed light on passive resistance and its stages. The first stage of passive resistance began in 1918 when the British government decided to hold a referendum to seek the opinion of the Iraqis on the continuation of British administration. Many people in the holy cities and in Baghdad tried to thwart the referendum. In the second phase of resistance, from late 1918 to early 1919, they brought their case for full independence to international and regional attention. The last phase of passive resistance, which lasted from mid-1919 to 1920, consisted of cooperation and coordination between the different sects, races, and political parties. They held meetings and peaceful demonstrations which brought them closer.
The passive resistance played a prominent role in forming a coalition between the Shiite clerics in the holy cities, the nationalists and tribal leaders in facing the occupation and demanding to achievement the common goals. This matter has contributed to emergence of signs of nation-building and crystallizing the idea of armed resistance against the British authorities, which was represented in the great Iraqi revolution.

This study relied on documents from the British archives, documents from eligibility archives, as well as other primary sources focusing on this important aspect of modern Iraqi history.