Ashura
Ashura
Lu Dominmne aluAshura Bakil | |
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Province | |
| Province of Ashura | |
  The two holiest sites in Paxism: Temple of the Restoration in Adrien (left) and Memorial of the Jovian Gate in Akas Akil | |
Nicknames:
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| Anthem: Packilvanian : luDomin yemuNoi muyadhaab weluYasteriya Land where Noi returned to Urth | |
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| Region | |
| Founding of the Kingdom of Bakil | -100 |
| Collapse of the Iktanite dynasty | 1112 |
| Annexation by the Zubraynite dynasty | 1275 |
| Named for | Ashura desert |
| Seat | Akas Akil |
| Government | |
| • Type | Provincial government |
| • Body | Ashura Consultative Assembly |
| • Governor | Prince Idesh a-Amhoud Bedon |
| Area | |
| • Total | 780,000 km2 (300,000 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation (Mount of Olives) | 2,756 m (9,042 ft) |
| Lowest elevation (Valley of the Shadow of Death) | −6 m (−20 ft) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 127,110,600 |
| Time zone | UTC+4 (Central East Packilvania Time) |
Ashura is the fourth most populated and third or fourth largest province of Packilvania. It is fully landlocked. It borders Mekedesh to the south, Iganar to the east, Jumhurikesh to the north east, Kharyat to the south west, and Shakar to the north and west.
It was founded as the First Kingdom of Bakil in 100 BCE. Under Iktan the Devout, the Kingdom of Bakil controlled surrounding states and was declared the United Kingdom of Bakil in 675 CE. Under Jezril V, the Iktanite dynasty's empire collapsed and Bakil once again became in independent Kingdom in 1112 CE. Ishak I annexed Bakil and brought it under the Zubraynite Dynasty in 1275 CE. When the Zubrayn Dynasty was defeated by the Demirite Dynasty in 1675 under Saidun the Conqueror, Bakil became part of Packilvania and was demoted from a Kingdom to a Province and renamed to Ashura. The Packilvanian Communist Party took over in 1917 following the collapse of the Demirite Dynasty and overthrow of Zerah Demir IV. The Bedonite Dynasty regained control of Ashura in 1973 where Amhoud I was crowned Sultan of Packilvania on the steps of the Temple of the Restoration in Adrien.
It is commonly called the Holy Land because it contains two of the holiest sites in Paxism namely the Temple of the Restoration in Adrien and the Memorial of the Jovian Gate in Akas Akil. Moreover, Prophet Besmali of Akas Akil wrote and published the Ichtmar, the foundation of modern Paxism, in the area that comprises the territory of Ashura Province. Furthermore, Suleiman of Yehudah commissioned the Vagumar in the city of Adrien in 1100 BCE which was formerly part of the Kingdom of Yehudah. The name Bakil comes from the Bakil Desert which was named after the Bakil River which means "water" in the Packilvanian language. The name Ashura was another named used from the desert to which the entire area was renamed by Saidun the Conqueror to keep it subjugated.
It has a hot desert climate. Nevertheless due to it s historical importance and the discovery of oil and gas in the 1890s, its economic and demographic importance increased significantly in the 19th and 20th centuries. It contains some of the largest oil and gas fields on Urth. It has a population of over 127 million people. Its economy has a GDP of 919 billion KRB. However, it has a GDP per capita of 7,230 KRB. If Ashura was an independent country, it would be similar in size and economic might to countries like Stratarin and North Ethalria. Its capital and largest city Akas Akil is the 10th most populated city in Packilvania.
Etymology and terminology
The name "Ashura" is of unknown origin. It was first documented on a stone tablet over 3,500 years ago on a bone tablet. Its meaning is highly contested, but it believed to refer to the desert by eminent linguist Monhad Shalbal.
Geography, biodiversity and climate
Ashura is bisected by the Ufrata River. The Ufrata River is the largest and longest river and most of the parts of it that lie in Ashura are navigable. The river benefits from the massive mountains in the moth-east of Packilvania and tributaries along its route that deposit billions of liters of water. The province relies on the river and the Khidan-Adrien-Obrakud Aquafir for almost all its water consumption needs. In the past, industrial and residential run off into the river was bad, to such an extent that strict regulations were imposed and the Imperial government took over water related matters in the province in the early 1990s. Most of the biodiversity on the rivers banks has recovered as a result..
The wetlands around the river house water fowl and many water plants such as indigenous species of water lilies. The rest of the Province is characterised by sandy desert. Most of the sentient population is concentrated on the river. Nevertheless, the deserts are home to many species of succulent plants and low-water consuming plants. It is home to an abundance of reptiles that enjoy the heat. Other animals such as jackals, caracals, desert hyraxes, and wild dogs as well as wild donkeys roam the country side. The camel is the agricultural animal of choice. Nevertheless, cattle and sheep are raised on the limited pastoral areas in the countryside. However they do come into competition with wild antelope. Animals that rely on the massive ant hills such as anteater and meerkats roam the arid regions of the Province.
Rain in Ashura is sporadic and unreliable and the province has been known to go years with extremely little precipitation. This is because most of the moisture from the Packilvanian Sea and Borean Sea is lost and the winds that reach Ashura are hot and dry. Average temperatures range around 25 to 35 degrees Celsius. The hottest recorded temperature is 46 degrees Celsius.
Government and politics
The political system of Ashura takes place in the framework of a devolved administration akin to the rest of the administrative divisions of Packilvania. As a result of legislation passed by the Parliament of Packilvania, the province has control over schools, universities, hospitals, internal roads, intraprovincial roads, mining, water, police (except in Akas Akil and Adrien) and electricity among others. The Provincial government is based in Akas Akil.
The Governor appoints the government convenes the Provincial Legislature and signs provincial laws. This is currently HIH Prince Qalad a-Obadion Bedon. The Premier is the Chairperson of the Provincial Council of Ministers and oversees the daily running of the Provincial Government, currently Dr. Nohan Jamlar. The High Court of Ashura is responsible for striking down provincial laws that do not conform to national laws or the Constitution, receiving appeals from lower courts and exercising general jurisdiction over matters beyond the scope of lower courts under its jurisdiction. The Judge President of the High Court of Ashura is Marquis Faijal Duwal of Sajahaad.
The Ashurian Provincial Legislature has 500 members. The lower house, the Representative Assembly is elected by lottery. Of whom at least 30% are women. However the Province has no representation of religious minorities. Ashura is regarded as the most socially conservative province in the country. Dress codes are strictly enforced, entry to the sacred cities to non-Paxists is strictly prohibited and it has no designated areas for religious minorities to freely practice their religions. It has the highest proportion of its Legislative Council members (the upper house with most of the law-making power) being from or affiliated with the Magisterium of Paxism.
Economy and infrastructure
Ashura is one of the biggest producers of oil in the world. Over 60% of its economy relies on oil exports to other parts of the country and the world. The oil industry in Ashura is largely split between the Ashura Petroleum and Gas Corporation (known for marketing purposes as PetroAshura) and Insamion Fuels. Both operate oil wells, but the oil refining facilities are largely owned by Umbariel, Sajik & Tarkhin, BTA, and Bakil Refinining. Oil distribution and retail are administered by Ashmid and Exotex. The oil sector employs over 50% of workers.
With the Province lying on the banks of the Ufrata Rivers (the largest and longest river in the world), most of the population and large urban centers are concentrated around or near it. As a navigable river, most of the trade of goods that happens between Ashura and the rest of the country happens through barges passing through the river. Through the nutrients and moisture deposited by the river, substantial agriculture has emerged on its banks including water-intensive cotton farming, with Ashura being the largest producer of cotton in the country. The Akas Akil International Airport and the Adrien International Airport handle most of the passenger and freight air traffic. There is a high-speed rail line that connects Akas Akil, Adrien and Zukaril in Iganar.
The province relies on 89% of its energy on diesel power plants, which are largely operated by Ashura Energy, Ashura Electrical Generation and the Ashura Power Corporation. Energy distribution is managed by local governments while transmission is handled by the state owned Ashurian Electricity Transmission Authority. Water is managed by water boards run by local governments, but access to water sources like the Ufrata and the Khidan-Adrien-Obrakud Aquafir are regulated by the provincial government.
Culture and society
Ashura is the most conservative provinces in the country. It has the highest rate of marriages and the lowest rate of divorce in the country. It has the highest rate of underage marriages at 5.6%, beating out Shakar. It has the highest concentration of Paxist temples and placed of worship. It has the highest number of Paxist seminaries.
Women in Ashura rarely show their faces. Most women have their faces covered completely except at home with their parents or husband. Ashura has the lowest participation of women in politics and women in Ashura are far less likely to hold leadership ot executive positions in the country. Ashura has the highest rate of wives who stay at home. The Provincial government has often waylaid plans by the Imperial Government surrounding family planning and abortion. Religious courts in Ashura have often ruled harshly on cases pertaining to abortion. Despite attempts by the Imperial Government to curtail the Religious Police, the institution remains active in Ashura and continues to enforce stringent rules on clothing and public conduct.
Ashura is notorious for its widespread practice of Judicial floggings and judges in Ashura are more likely to give the death penalty than elsewhere. Nevertheless the Province is home to the most beautiful and spiritually significant sites of Paxism ranging from the Temple of the Restoration, the Memorial of the Jovian Gate, the House of Prophet Besmali, the Tomb and Old Palace of King Suleiman of Yehudah, the Temple of the Victory over Atheism, the Tomb of Lord Tiraz Mawal (the great disciple of Prophet Besmali), the ruins of the Old City of Yehudah and the Old City of Akas Akil.
Public mass recitation and meditation on the Writings of Paxism is common in public parks and squares. Ashura has the lowest consumption of alcohol and pork, and the smallest concentration of clubs and pubs. However, the many people in the province enjoy going to malls and restaurants. The province has an abundance of men's only lounges. The province is well known for its many gender segregated Bath houses which help people cool off in the scorching heat. Ashura continues to preserve the calligraphic traditions of the ancient Kingdom of Bakil and its various successor states and it is widely known for the manufacture of expensive pens, and ink. The province is also widely known for the continued manufacture of animal bone artworks.