Flagoid logo on Spanish army vehicles in Iraq (Spain)

Last modified: 2011-06-10 by eugene ipavec
Keywords: text: arabic (black) | isbaniya | iraq |
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image by Jorge Hurtado, exported to GIF format image by Santiago Dotor, 14 May 2004

• Description

See also:

• Variants of the National Flag (Spain)
• Spain
• Iraq

Spanish army vehicles operating in Iraq July 2003-May 2004 used a flag-like logo, painted (or maybe it was a decal) on vehicles' sides, doors etc., consisting of a Spanish flag with, instead of the coat-of-arms, the word Spain in black Arabic lettering. This logo has never, as far as I know, been used as an actual flag, either for hoisting or otherwise.

Source: Gaceta de Banderas, May 2004 issue, article by Jorge Hurtado

Santiago Dotor, 14 May 2004

Spain in Arabic is Isbaniya, which in Arabic letters would be: Alif (with hamza below) – Sim – Be – Alif – Nun – Ye – Alif, i.e. اسبانيا:

• The vertical stroke standing alone on the right is the alif, the omitted hamza (dot) below which makes it pronounced "i" (that hamza is typically omitted except in formal usage.)
• The first three bumps reading right to left are the letter sim, or "s."
• The next bump with the dot below it is the letter be, or "b."
• The vertical stroke connected to the be is another alif, this time pronounced as a long "a."
• The first bump in the next connected string, with the dot above it, is the letter nun. You can't see it, because it isn't normally written, but there's a short i sound with the nun, which makes this pronounced "ni."
• The next bump to the left, with two dots below it, is the letter ye, pronounced "y."
• The last vertical stroke on the left, connected to the ye, is another alif, or long "a."

Joseph McMillan, 14-19 May 2004