Jedha



"We're going to Jedha. That's a warzone."

- Jyn Erso, to Cassian Andor

Jedha was a small desert moon located in the Jedha system of the galaxy's Inner Rim, which had a cold climate due to its lasting winter, and an atmosphere that was breathable to its human population. The historical and spiritual significance of Jedha led the moon to become a world of worship for those who believed in the Force, and a holy site for pilgrims who sought spiritual guidance. Some time before the Battle of Yavin, the Galactic Empire occupied the moon to control its kyber crystal resources that were once used by the Jedi Order to build lightsabers. The occupation later provoked an insurgency to oppose the Imperial tyranny, coordinated by the Rebel extremist Saw Gerrera.

Description
Located in the Jedha system of the Inner Rim, Jedha was a small desert moon frosted by a permanent winter that caused a cold climate. Its native inhabitants included humans and the moon's atmosphere was breathable to the species. Jedha was rich in kyber crystal–Force-attuned crystals that were fundamental for lightsaber construction. Many settlements on the moon, like the Jedha City, sat atop natural mesas.

History
"The world is coming undone. Imperial flags reign across the galaxy."

- Saw Gerrera

The ancient world of Jedha was home to one of the first civilizations to explore the nature of the Force, was considered a spiritual home of the Jedi, and the Temple of the Whills–a great temple held sacred by those who followed the teachings of the Church of the Force–was located on the moon. Some scholars made a case for Jedha as the location of the Jedi Order's first temple, alongside other candidate worlds, such as Ahch-To, Coruscant, Ossus, and Tython. As a result, the moon became a holy land for those who followed the Force and a place that one would go on a pilgrimage.

Subsequent to the fall of the Jedi Order and the Galactic Republic, its successor state–the Galactic Empire–occupied Jedha for possession of the kyber crystal resources that once served the Jedi Order as lightsaber component material. Under the rule of the Empire, the timeworn streets of Jedha were patrolled by stormtroopers, Imperial Assault Hovertanks, and AT-STs. The Imperial oppression later led to the formation of a resistance, coordinated by the Rebel veteran Saw Gerrera who preferred brutal tactics. In 0 BBY, Rebel soldiers Cassian Andor and Jyn Erso undertook a mission to Jedha to retrieve Imperial defector Bodhi Rook, who had been captured by Gerrera's rebels. Shortly after their arrival, the first Death Star–the Empire's deep-space mobile battle station capable of destroying entire planets– fired its superlaser with a single reactor ignition at the moon, destroying the holy city and the surrounding area, including Gerrera's hideout. After being held captive by Saw, Andor and Erso narrowly escaped the destruction along with Bodhi Rook, Baze Malbus and Chirrut Îmwe.

Inhabitants
"They destroyed our home!"

- Baze Malbus

The moon Jedha was inhabited by humans, and it was the homeworld of the Imperial-turned-Rebel pilot Bodhi Rook, the warrior monk Chirrut Îmwe and his freelance assassin friend Baze Malbus. Under Imperial occupation, the streets of Jedha were filled with priests, scholars and holy men and women. Prior to the Battle of Yavin, Saw Gerrera–leader of a band of Rebel extremists known as the Partisans–was bunkered on the moon. He established a hidden base, which was once used to store the skeletal remains of the dead, to coordinate a prolonged insurgency against the Imperial occupation.

Behind the scenes
"If you believe in the Jedi and you believe in the Force, it feels like Jedha is somewhere you should visit in your lifetime."

- Gareth Edwards

Jedha is a moon that was created and developed for the 2016 film Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. The moon's cities were inspired by real life holy cities such as Mecca and Jerusalem. The cities also have Middle Eastern influences with its narrow market alleyways, desert sands, and Ottoman-inspired architecture. First footage of Jedha was released with the teaser trailer for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, on April 7, 2016. The moon was fully revealed during the Rogue One panel at Star Wars Celebration Europe 2016, on July 15, 2016. In various sources, Jedha was mistaken for a planet, but it was later clarified and Jedha was identified as a moon with the addition of Jedha's Databank entry on the official Star Wars website, on August 10, 2016.

Appearances

 * Rogue One: A Star Wars Story