Mafkar مفكر | |
|---|---|
Village | |
  Mafkar Location in Syria | |
| Coordinates:35°00′37″N37°13′30″E / 35.0103°N 37.2250°E /35.0103; 37.2250 | |
| Country |  Syria |
| Governorate | Hama |
| District | Salamiyah |
| Subdistrict | Barri Sharqi |
| Population (2004) | |
• Total | 1,605 |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
| City Qrya Pcode | C3270 |
Mafkar (Arabic:مفكر, also transliteratedal-Mufakkir) is a village in centralSyria, administratively part of theBarri Sharqi Subdistrict of theSalamiyah District of theHama Governorate. It is located 52 kilometers (32 mi) east ofHama and 22 kilometers (14 mi) north ofSalamiyah. It consists of two parts, Mafkar Sharqi (East Mafkar) and Mafkar Gharbi (West Mafkar); the two parts are considered neighborhoods and sometimes, as separate villages.[1]
According to theSyria Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), Mafkar Sharqi had a population of 802 and Mafkar Gharbi had a population of 803 in the 2004 census.[2] The inhabitants are predominantlyIsmaili Shia Muslims.[3]
Mafkar was founded inc. 1900, one of several villages withByzantine-era ruins established on the margins of theSyrian steppe east of Hama beginning in the mid-19th century to repopulate and recultivate the area, which was long vulnerable toBedouin raiding. The village was first inhabited by families fromTaqsis, but they left for unclear reasons. The oldest-established families of the current village are the Al Suwaydan and Al Abu Qasim families.[1]
As of 2010, most of the inhabitants were economically dependent on mostly rainfed agriculture, with the main crops being grapes and olives. The village had been locally well known for its large potato farms, but those dwindled to a meager 20dunams by 2010. Over half of the village's inhabitants had emigrated by then to the district capital of Salamiyah for better prospects.[1]
During theSyrian civil war, in the summer of 2013, the Ismaili inhabitants of the village left forSalamiyah, at least temporarily, while Syrian government forces andSyrian rebels fought in and around their village. Many of their homes were looted by pro-government forces.[3]
