Kairouan was Arab-populated, and Abi Ibn Khinzir's appointment obviated the need to appoint a Kutama Berber in his place: an uncouth Berber tribesman would have been unacceptable to the Arabs of Kairouan, while the Kutama in turn vehemently demanded to be allowed to sack the city.[3] Hasan's brother Khalaf became governor of the former Aghlabid administrative centre of al-Qasr al-Qadim at the same time.[2] Their appointment was confirmed by the new Fatimid caliph, al-Mahdi Billah, when he assumed the reins of power in early 910.[4] As governor, Ibn Abi Khinzir helped to impose Shi'a rituals in Kairouan, which earned him the deep enmity of the Sunni Maliki jurists.[5][6]