Morek

Murik contains the ruins, including mosaics, of a 5th-century Byzantine church, similar to those found in nearby Qamhana and Taybet al-Imam.{{sfn|Jouejati-Madwar|2005|pp=775–776}}

In 1818, due to the impoverished state of its inhabitants, Morek was partially exempted from taxes.{{sfn|Douwes|Lewis|1992|p=277}} In a tax record from that year, the village consisted of 23 feddans, paid the relatively small amount of 1,100 qirsh in taxes but also was extorted to pay 4,720 qirsh by the mutasallim of Hama, Faraj Agha, who was dismissed from his post for corrupt practices.{{sfn|Douwes|2000|p=224}}

In 1838, its inhabitants were noted to be predominantly Sunni Muslims.Smith, in Robinson and Smith, 1841, vol 3, 2nd appendix, p. [https://archive.org/stream/biblicalresearch03robiuoft#page/178/mode/1up 178] In May 1841, amid the chaotic withdrawal of Egyptian forces from Syria, which they had controlled since 1831, Bedouins from the Anaza tribes of Fad'an and Sba'a raided Morek, kidnapping a boy and stealing numerous livestock from the inhabitants.{{sfn|Douwes|2000|p=42, note 80}}

In the early 20th century, during French Mandatory rule, Morek's 300 small landowners were split between two disputing factions. They sought arbitration from the notables of Hama city, who thereupon took ownership of two-thirds of the village's lands. The inhabitants of Morek were Sunni Muslim Arabs of Bedouin origin.{{sfn|Comité de l'Asie française|1933|pp=132, 134}}

During the Syrian civil war, the city was the site of the Battle of Morek. By 2018 it was under the control of Hayat Tahrir al Sham and had become the sight of an important crossing point from rebel held areas into those held by the Syrian government.{{Cite news|url=https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syrian-military-closes-strategic-crossings-in-preparation-for-hama-offensive/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180812131712/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syrian-military-closes-strategic-crossings-in-preparation-for-hama-offensive/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 12, 2018|title=Syrian military closes strategic crossings in preparation for Hama offensive|last=Aboufadel|first=Leith|date=2018-08-12|work=AMN}} On August 12, 2018, the Syrian Arab Army closed that crossing in preparation for their assault on rebel held territory in the region. The Turkish government had also deployed special forces to Morek in preparation for the SAA's anticipated advance on the Idlib region.{{Cite news|url=https://english.enabbaladi.net/archives/2018/09/cards-held-by-turkey-in-idlib/|title=Cards Held by Turkey in Idlib|work=Enab Baladi|access-date=September 13, 2018}} The anticipated advance was averted by a de-militarization agreement signed between Russia and Turkey in September 2018. By May 2019 a group called Jaysh al-Izza{{Cite news|url=https://english.enabbaladi.net/archives/2019/05/from-the-west-battles-draw-a-new-map-for-idlib/|title=From the West, Battles Draw a New Map for Idlib|date=May 13, 2019|work=Enab Baladi|access-date=May 17, 2019}} was stationed in the city and was refusing to allow Russian patrols within the demilitarized zone.

On 20 August, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the rebel and Islamic factions including jihadi groups like Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) had completely withdrawn from Morek in the northern countryside of Hama.{{Cite web|url=http://www.syriahr.com/en/?p=138138|title=Fearing to fall in a complete siege, the factions and jihadi groups withdraw from Khan Shaykhun city and towns and villages south of it in the northern countryside of Hama|date=20 August 2019|website=Syrian Observatory for Human Rights|language=ar}} Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said that the Turkish troops were staying at the Turkish observation post in Morek.{{Cite web|url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/reuters/syrian-army-captures-hama-rebel-pocket-in-northwest---state-media/45179994|title=Syrian army captures Hama rebel pocket in northwest - state media|last1=swissinfo.ch|first1=S. W. I.|last2=Corporation|first2=a branch of the Swiss Broadcasting|website=SWI swissinfo.ch|language=en|access-date=2019-09-07}}

Turkey withdrew its military presence from Morek on 19 October 2020.{{cite web|url=https://ca.reuters.com/article/us-syria-crisis-turkey-idCAKBN27428Y|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020195127/https://ca.reuters.com/article/us-syria-crisis-turkey-idCAKBN27428Y|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 20, 2020|title=Turkey withdraws from base in northwest Syria, sources say|work=Reuters|date=19 October 2020}} On 30 November 2024, HTS rebels captured the city from the Syrian Army during the Hama offensive.{{cite web |title=Syrian army withdraws from Hama as rebels push toward Homs |url=https://www.turkiyetoday.com/world/syrian-army-withdraws-from-hama-as-rebels-push-toward-homs-86795/ |publisher=Türkiye Today |access-date=30 November 2024}}{{cite news |title="The Authority" controls Aleppo International Airport and many cities and towns in the northern Hama countryside amid a complete collapse of the regime forces |url=https://www.syriahr.com/%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%87%d9%80-%d9%80%d9%8a%d9%80-%d9%80%d8%a6%d8%a9-%d8%aa%d8%b3%d9%8a%d8%b7%d8%b1-%d8%b9%d9%84%d9%89-%d9%85%d8%b7%d8%a7%d8%b1-%d8%ad%d9%84%d8%a8-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%af%d9%88%d9%84%d9%8a/738447/ |access-date=30 November 2024 |publisher=SOHR |date=30 November 2024 |language=Arabic}}

{{reflist}}

• {{cite journal|title=Notes sur la propriété foncière dans le Syrie centrale (Notes on Landownership in Central Syria) |journal=Bulletin du Comité de l'Asie française |author=Comité de l'Asie française|url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k4019479m/f1.item.r=Sorane |publisher=Comité de l'Asie française |date=April 1933 |volume=33 |issue=309 |pages=130–136 |language=fr}}
• {{cite book |last1=Douwes |first1=Dick |last2=Lewis |first2=Norman N. |editor1-last=Philipp |editor1-first=Thomas |title=The Syrian Land in the 18th and 19th Centuries |date=1992 |publisher=Franz Steiner |location=Stuttgart |isbn=3-515-05685-8 |pages=261–284 |chapter=Taxation and Agriculture in the Hama District, 1800–1831: New Material from the Records of the Religious Court}}
• {{cite book |first=Dick |last=Douwes |title=The Ottomans in Syria: A History of Justice and Oppression |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zYptAAAAMAAJ |publisher=I.B. Tauris |year=2000 |isbn=1860640311}}
• {{cite book |last1=Jouejati-Madwar |first1=Rafah |title=La mosaïque gréco-romaine. IX–Colloque international pour l'étude de la mosaïque antique (9th: 2001: Rome, Italy) Volume 2 |date=2005 |publisher=École Française de Rome |location=Rome |pages=775-784 |url=https://www.persee.fr/doc/efr_0223-5099_2005_act_352_2_8417 |chapter=A Mosaicists’ Workshop in Epiphania (Hama, Syria) at the Beginning of the 5th Century}}
• {{cite book |last1=Robinson |first1=E. |author-link1=Edward Robinson (scholar) |last2=Smith |first2=E. |author-link2=Eli Smith |year=1841 |url=https://archive.org/details/biblicalresearch03robiuoft |title=Biblical Researches in Palestine, Mount Sinai and Arabia Petraea: A Journal of Travels in the year 1838 |location=Boston |publisher=Crocker & Brewster |volume=3}}

{{Hama Governorate|hama}}

Category:Towns in Hama Governorate

Category:Populated places in Hama District