Shurta Headquarters
The Shurta Headquarters was the head office of the shurta (Arabic: شرطة, loosely, "police" but lit. "picked") in Baghdad, located in the Commanders' District of the Round City. It was notably the main office of the Tahirid viceroy Muhammad ibn Tahir during his tenure as governor of Baghdad in the 9th century.[1]
History[edit | edit source]
In the 860s, the Hidden One Basim ibn Ishaq infiltrated the Shurta Headquarters after tailing one of Muhammad's spies there, in order to search for evidence of the governor's affiliation with the Order of the Ancients. After finding a note revealing that Muhammad had made a deal with the Order to restore peace to Baghdad, Basim was confronted by the governor as the latter returned to his office.[2]
Clarifying that he did not serve the Order and only used them to achieve what he believed was best for Baghdad, Muhammad ordered Basim to leave so that he could resume his work. He then left the office and called upon the guards, forcing Basim to escape through the office's balcony and hide from the soldiers pursuing him.[2]
Gallery[edit | edit source]
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Basim inside the Shurta Headquarters -
Basim inside Governor Muhammad's office -
Muhammad ordering Basim to leave
Appearances[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]