Argwan Island

Kingdom of Argwan Island
Flag
Status	Self-governing dependency of the State of Gassasinia
Capital	Ramatia
Official languages	Gassasinian Aramaic Gassasinian Sign Language
Recognised Languages	English Gassasinian
Ethnic groups	54% Argwan Islanders 35.5% Gassasinian 4.5% Jewish 2% Aziallian 2% Mehrani 1% Other
Religion	Secular State 76% Christianity   10% Islam 10% Irreligious 4% Judaism
Demonym(s)	Argwani
Government	unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy
• King	Yousef II
• Prime Minister	Boutros Abdelmassih
• Governor-General	Abdullah Hassan
Legislature	Legislative Assembly
History
• First Settlement	10th Century BC
• Vassal of Gassasinian Kingdom	355
• Independence from Shadoveil	1949
Area
• Total	483 km2 (186 sq mi)
Population
• June 2020 census	88,103
• Density	182/km2 (471.4/sq mi)
GDP (nominal)	2020 estimate
• Total	~$3.92 billion
• Per capita	$44,500
Gini (2020)	26 low
HDI (2018)	0.952 very high
Currency	Gassasinian Dollars ($GSD) Argwani Dinar (AWD)
Time zone	UTC-4 (Gassasinian Standard Time (GST)
Driving side	left
Calling code	+963
Internet TLD	.ar

Argwan Island is an island in the Marigic Gulf. Although not a sovereign nation, Argwan Island is considered a self-governing dependency of the State of Gassasinia, which is primarily reponsible for matters of defence and foreign relations.

Argwan Island was first settled in the 10th century BC by ancient Marigic traders originating from main-land Gassasinia. The island would continue to be closely interlinked with the mainland Marigic city states, where Christianity was eventually imported onto the island during the 3rd Century AD. Argwan Island became the personal domain of the Ghassanid king in 355, and would continue to remain mostly independent from Gassasinia's Islamic conquerors throughout the 6th Century through to the 15th Century.

During the 19th century, Argwan Island remained the de-jure personal domain of the Al-Maaloufites. However, in practise Argwan Island was a constitutional monarchy with an elected parliament. In 1841, Argwan Island became the first state of the divided Gassasinian territories to introduce universal male suffrage for those registered as citizens. In 1949, Argwan Island was directly incorporated into the newly formed State of Gassasinia as a self-governing territory.

Name

The modern-day name for the Argwan Islands first appeared under ancient Mehravan rule, when the island was referred to as "Argwanistan". It is believed that the island's name "Argwan" is derived from the Aramaic name for the colour purple, "ܐܪܓܘܢܐ" (pronounced ʔarɡ(ə)wɑnɑ). In ancient times, Marigic city states were well known for their precious purple dyes, almost worth their weight in gold. Prior to the emergence of the island's modern name, it was often referred to by the name of it's largest settlement, the ancient Marigic trade city of Ramatia.

Government

The key legislation behind the Argwan Island Government are the Argwan Island Self-Governance Act 1949, which guarantees self governance for Argwan Island, and the Governing Principles of the Argwan Island, the constitution of the Argwan Island drafted and passed in 1921. Additionally, Argwan Island is subject to certain parts of the Gassasinian Constitution.

The legislature of Argwan Island is the Argwani Assembly, a unicamarel parliament consisting of fifty Members of Argwani Legislative Assembly. The governing party of Argwan Island is the Democratic Socialist Party of Argwan Island, a centre-left party partially associated with the Labour Party in mainland Gassasinia.

All persons born on Argwan Island are subject to Gassasinian citizenship. The Director of Home Affairs for Argwan Island is authorised to issue passports to those who reside on Argwan Island. Although functionally similar to the Gassasinian Passport, Argwani passports bear the name and coat of arms of Argwan Island rather than of the State of Gassasinia.

General elections on Argwan Island are held every four years. The de-jure head of state is the Governor-General, which is appointed by the King of Gassasinia to represent himself on the island. This position is completely ceremonial, and executive power lies largely with the Prime Minister of Argwan Island whom is appointed by parliament, generally from the leadership of the largest party.

Law Enforcement

Formed in 1836, the Royal Argwan Island Police is one of the Thrismari continent's oldest police forces. Employing 207 warranted constables and 62 civilian support staff, the Royal Argwan Island Police is responsible for law-enforcement and crime investigation on Argwan Island. Since 1983, the Royal Argwan Island Police has standardised similar procedures to the Gassasinian National Police, with which it works closely.

The Royal Argwan Island Police retains its' own Criminal Investigative Department and Armed Response Team. Ordinary constables are not routinely armed.

Defence

According to the Argwan Island Self-Governance Act 1949, defence is the sole responsibility of the State of Gassasinia. The Gassasinian Defence Force retains a moderate presence on the island, primarily through the Gassasinian Army base at Patel Barracks, which is home to the Royal Argwan Island Infantry Battalion.

The Royal Gassasinian Air Force maintains the No. 21 Squadron which operates Sea King helicopters out of Ramatia Airport, primarily responsible for providing support for the Royal Argwan Island Police and the Gassasinian Army, along with providing air ambulance services across the island.

Until the Defence Force Act 1979, the Argwan Island voluntarily applied conscription to it's local population despite no such requirement existing in the Argwan Island Self-Governance Act.

Legal System

Argwani Law differs from Gassasinian Law in that Argwani Law is based on civil law, whereby laws are laid out in a concise legal code, whereas Gassasinian Law is based on common law whereby legislation is enforced based on past case law. Argwani Law is divided into Private and Public Law.

• Private Law
  • Family Law
  • Contract and Commercial Law
• Public Law
  • Constitutional Law
  • Criminal Law

The main prosecution agency on Argwan Island is the Civil Prosecution Service of Argwan Island. Laws are laid out in the Criminal Code of Argwan Island.

The maximum punishment in Argwani Law is life imprisonment. Capital punishment was formally abolished in 1928. Due to the fact that Argwan Island is subject to certain elements of the Gassasinian Constitution, the Supreme Court of the State of Gassasinia has jurisdiction to hear certain cases, but this is rare and cases of constitutional significance are usually heard by the Constitutional Court of Argwan Island.

Both criminal and civil cases are tried at a Sheriff's Court, which are overseen by a Sheriff. Summary offenses are usually presided over through Trial by Judge, whereas more serious cases can be subject to Trial by Jury. The constitutional and appeals court of Argwan Island is the High Sheriff's Court, which is overseen by the island's two High Sheriffs and a board of ordinary Sheriffs. The highest appellate court in Argwan Island is the Supreme Court of the State of Gassasinia.

Economy

Although during the ancient and medieval periods, Argwan Island's economy was based on trade, purple dye exports and fishing, in the modern day, Argwan Island's largest industry is tourism, followed closely by fishing and agriculture.

The official currency of Argwan Island is the Argwani Dinar (AWD), with the Gassasinian Dollar also being considered legal tender. The Argwani Dinar is pegged at a 1:1 ratio with the Gassasinian Dollar, and can be freely exchanged for an equivalent sum in Gassasinian Dollars at any branch of the Argwani National Bank.

Healthcare

Healthcare in Argwan Island is primarily provided by the Department of Health through a tax-funded beveridge model universal single-payer healthcare system. Argwan Island is home to two hospitals and fifteen General Practice surgeries. Ambulance services are provided by the Argwan Island Fire Brigade, and air ambulances are provided by the Royal Gassasinian Air Force.

Education

According to the Governing Principles of the Argwan Island, education is a fundamental human right for all residents of Argwan Island. The Department of Education is responsible for operating a network of primary schools and high schools across the island, along with the Argwan Polytechnic, which provides Further and Higher Education for the island's residents for free.

Argwan Island is subject to the same exam boards and qualifications as mainland Gassasinia, meaning that qualifications gained in Gassasinia and the Argwan Island are interchangeable.

Transport

Transport on Argwan Island is primarily the responsibility of the Department of Transport, which operates a fleet of buses, trains, aircraft and small naval craft which interconnect both the island and mainland Gassasinia.

Ramatia Airport in Ramatia is the island's main airport, and the island is dotted by a handful of privately owned airfields.

Nour Ferry Terminal in Ramatia provides the island with ferry services to mainland Gassasinia. Ferries operated by the Department of Transport cross between Jabiyah and Ramatia approximately every four hours.

Culture

Media

Television and radio on the Argwan Island is primarily provided by GRT Argwan Island, which provides a range of programmes in both Aramaic and English. Argwan Island follows the same Media Ratings Board certification for media, but does not enforce it's restrictions as stringently. As a result, media censorship in Argwan Island are a lot looser compared to the mainland. GRT Argwan Island is based in the capital city of Ramatia.

A variety of private organisations also host their own television and radio broadcasts. Private broadcasting is certified by the Department of Communication, which is responsible for licensing private broadcasts.

Demographics

Ethnicity and Nationality

Of Argwan Island's population of more than eighty thousand, censuses have indicated that more than forty-five percent of the island's population was born in Gassasinia, with about half of the population having been born on the island.

According to the 2020 Argwani Census, when questioned about national identity, most native Argwan Islanders indicated that although they feel primarily Argwani first and foremost, a majority of native Argwani Islanders also retain some degree of loyalty to Gassasinia.

Religion

Until 1949, the state religion of the Argwan Island was Roman Catholicism. Since the dissolution of the Kingdom of Gassasinia and annexation by the secular State of Gassasinia, the Argwan Island has been a secular state. However, in practice, the Argwan Island has respected freedom of religion since 1840.