NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Minority politics in Iraq

Minority politics in Iraq are represented by its various ethnic groups. The Kurds (Muslim, Yarisan and Yezidi), Assyrians, and Iraqi Turkmen represent the three largest non-Arab minorities in the country. Other groups include Armenians, Mandeans, Roma, Persians, and Jews. These groups have not enjoyed equal status with the majority Arab populations throughout Iraq's eighty-five year history. Like the Shi'a Muslims, the ruling Arab Socialist Ba'th Party harshly oppressed these minorities during its rule of Iraq. Under Ba'athist rule, Iraq, despite being one of the most multi-ethnic and multi-religious countries in the Near East, these groups were forced to deny their identities under Saddam Hussein's process of Arabization. The situation of the Kurds, however, has changed since the toppling of the Ba'ath party. The remainder of these ethnic groups continue to struggle against Islamic extremists, Arab nationalists, and criminal elements. The Presidency Council of Iraq, under the Transitional Administrative Law, serves collectively as the head of state. ... The President of Iraq is Iraqs head of state. ... Jalal Talabani (Kurdish: / Celal TalebanÃ® / Jelal TalebanÃ Arabic: , ) (born 1933), is an Iraqi politician, who was elected State President of Iraq on April 6, 2005, (sworn in the next day, April 7, and once again on April 22, 2006, by the Iraqi National Assembly). ... The Council of Ministers of Iraq is the executive branch of the (now transitional) government of Iraq. ... Kingdom of Iraq (1921-1959) The Prime Minister of Iraq is Iraqs head of government. ... Nouri Kamel Mohammed Hassan al-Maliki (Arabic: Ù†ÙˆØ±ÙŠ ÙƒØ§Ù…Ù„ Ø§Ù„Ù…Ø§Ù„ÙƒÙŠ, transliterated NÅ«rÄ« KÄmil al-MÄlikÄ«; born c. ... The Council of Representatives of Iraq (Arabic: ) is the main elected body of representatives in Iraq. ... Mahmud Dawud al-Mashhadani is an Iraqi politician and the President (the title is most often translated into English, incorrectly, as Speaker) of the Iraqi National Assembly. ... The Supreme Iraqi Criminal Tribunal (formerly known as the Iraqi Special Tribunal) is a body established under Iraqi national law to try Iraqi nationals or residents accused of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes or other serious crimes committed between 1968 and 2003. ... This article lists political parties in Iraq. ... Elections in Iraq gives information on election and election results in Iraq. ... The Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq (IECI) is Iraqs electoral commission. ... Iraqi police officers hold up their index fingers marked with purple indelible ink, a security measure to prevent double voting. ... Iraqis in the predominantly Sunni city of Husaybah, wait in lines to vote, during the national election, December 15. ... The electorate of Iraq went to the polls on 15 October 2005 to vote in a referendum on whether or not to ratify the proposed constitution of Iraq. ... Iraq is divided into 18 governorates or provinces (muhafazah): The current set of governorates were established in 1976. ... Below the 18 governorates, Iraq is divided into 111 districts (qadaa). ... Regions of Iraq is a subdivision created by the constitution that was ratified in October 2005. ... This article is in need of attention. ... Human rights in post-invasion Iraq have caused many concerns and controversies since the 2003 invasion. ... Foreign aid to Iraq has increased to handle reconstruction efforts. ... Information on politics by country is available for every country, including both de jure and de facto independent states, inhabited dependent territories, as well as areas of special sovereignty. ... Languages Kurdish Religions Predominantly Sunni Muslim also some Shia, Yazidism, Yarsan, Judaism, Christianity Related ethnic groups other Iranian peoples (Talysh Baluch Gilak Bakhtiari Persians) The Kurds are an ethnic group who consider themselves to be indigenous to a region often referred to as Kurdistan, an area which includes adjacent parts... There is also a collection of Hadith called Sahih Muslim A Muslim (Arabic: Ù…Ø³Ù„Ù…, Persian: Mosalman or Mosalmon Urdu: Ù…Ø³Ù„Ù…Ø§Ù†, Turkish: MÃ¼slÃ¼man, Albanian: Mysliman, Bosnian: Musliman) is an adherent of the religion of Islam. ... Religions YazdÃ¢nism (Yazidism) Scriptures Languages Kurmanji, Arabic The Yazidi (also Yezidi, Kurdish: ÃŠzidÃ®tÃ® or ÃŠzidÃ®, Arabic: ÙŠØ²ÙŠØ¯ÙŠ or Ø§ÙŠØ²ÙŠØ¯ÙŠ) are adherents of the smallest of the three branches of YazdÃ¢nism, a Middle Eastern religion with ancient Indo-European roots. ... Languages Aramaic Religions Christianity Related ethnic groups other Semitic peoples The Assyrians (also called Syriacs or Aramaeans[11]) are an ethnic group whose origins lie in what is today Iraq, Iran, Turkey and Syria, but many of whom have migrated to the Caucasus, North America and Western Europe during the... The Iraqi Turkmen (also spelled Turkomen, Turcoman, and Turkman) are a distinct Turkic ethnic group living in northern Iraq, notably in the cities of Arbil, Tal Afar, Kirkuk, and Mosul. ... Religions Mandaeism Scriptures Ginza Rba, Qolusta Languages Mandaic, Arabic, Aramaic Mandaeism or Mandaeanism is a monotheistic religion with a strongly dualistic worldview. ... Languages Romani, languages of native region Religions Christianity, Islam Related ethnic groups South Asians (Desi) The Roma (singular Rom; sometimes Rroma, Rrom) or Romanies are an ethnic group living in many communities all over the world. ... This article is about the Persian people, an ethnic group found mainly in Iran. ... Bath Party flag The Arab Socialist Bath Party (also spelled Baath or Baath; Arabic: ØØ²Ø¨ Ø§Ù„Ø¨Ø¹Ø« Ø§Ù„Ø¹Ø±Ø¨ÙŠ Ø§Ù„Ø§Ø´ØªØ±Ø§ÙƒÙŠ) was founded in 1945 as a left-wing, secular Arab nationalist political party. ... The Near East is a term commonly used by archaeologists, geographers and historians, less commonly by journalists and commentators, to refer to the region encompassing Anatolia (the Asian portion of modern Turkey), the Levant (modern Israel/Palestine, the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon), Georgia, Armenia, and... Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti (28 April 1937 â€“ 30 December 2006) was the fifth President of Iraq and Chairman of the Iraqi Revolutionary Command Council from 1979 until his overthrow by US forces in 2003. ... Arabization is the gradual transformation of an area into one that speaks Arabic and is part of the Arab culture. ... Islamism refers to anti-secular political ideologies derived from fundamentalist interpretations of the religion of Islam. ... Arab nationalism is a nationalist ideology in Arab world. ...

Kurds

Under the Kingdom of Iraq, Kurdish leader Mustafa Barzani led a rebellion against the central government in Baghdad in 1945. After the failure of the uprising Barzānī and his followers fled to the Soviet Union. In the 1960s, when Iraqi Brigadier Abdul-Karim Qassem distanced himself from Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser, he faced growing opposition from pro-Egypt officers in the Iraqi army. When the garrison in Mosul rebelled against Qassem's policies, he allowed Barzānī to return from exile to help suppress the pro-Nasser rebels. By 1961, Barzānī and the Kurds began a full-scale a rebellion. Image File history File links Unbalanced_scales. ... Anthem Ey ReqÃ®b (English: Hey Guardian) Location of Iraqi Kurdistan (dark green) with respect to Iraq (light green) on a map of the Middle East. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Kurdistan. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Kurdistan. ... Mustafa Barzani (March 14, 1903â€“March 1, 1979) was a Kurdish nationalist leader and President of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP). ... Baghdad (Arabic: ) is the capital of Iraq and of Baghdad Governorate. ... Year 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar). ... The 1960s decade refers to the years from 1960 to 1969, inclusive. ... Abdul Karim Qassim (also various other spellings; popularly known as az-Za’im [the leader]) (1914 - 9 February 1963) was an Iraqi military officer involved in the 1958 military coup détat. ... Gamal Abdel Nasser (Arabic: - ; Masri: Ø¬Ù…Ø§Ù„ Ø¹Ø¨Ø¯ Ø§Ù„Ù†Ø§ØµØ± - also transliterated as Jamal Abd al-Naser, Jamal Abd an-Nasser and other variants; January 15, 1918 â€“ September 28, 1970) was the President of Egypt from 1954 until his death in 1970. ... Mosul (Arabic: , Kurdish: Ù…ÙˆØµÙ„ MÃ»sil, Syriac: NÃ®nÄ›wÃ¢, Turkish: Musul) is a city in northern Iraq and the capital of the Ninawa Governorate. ...

When the Ba'ath Party took power in Iraq, the new government, in order to end the Kurdish revolt, granted the Kurds their own limited autonomy. However, for various reasons, including the pro-Iranian sympathies of some Kurds during the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s, the regime implemented anti-Kurdish policies and a de facto civil war broke out. From March 29, 1987 until April 23, 1989, the infamous Al-Anfal campaign, a systematic genocide of the Kurdish people in Iraq, was launched. For this, Iraq was widely-condemned by the international community, but was never seriously punished for oppressive measures, including the use of chemical weapons against the Kurds, which resulted in thousands of deaths. Bath Party flag The Arab Socialist Bath Party (also spelled Baath or Baath; Arabic: ØØ²Ø¨ Ø§Ù„Ø¨Ø¹Ø« Ø§Ù„Ø¹Ø±Ø¨ÙŠ Ø§Ù„Ø§Ø´ØªØ±Ø§ÙƒÙŠ) was founded in 1945 as a radical, left-wing, secular Arab nationalist political party. ... Combatants Iran Kurdish Peshmerga Iraq Peoples Mujahedin of Iran Commanders Ruhollah Khomeini Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani Ali Shamkhani Mostafa Chamran â€ Saddam Hussein Ali Hassan al-Majid Strength 305,000 soldiers 500,000 Pasdaran and Basij militia 900 tanks 1,000 armored vehicles 3,000 artillery pieces 470 aircraft 750 helicopters... The 1980s refers to the years from 1980 to 1989. ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar). ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Chemical warfare is warfare (and associated military operations) using the toxic properties of chemical substances to kill, injure or incapacitate an enemy. ...

After the Persian Gulf War, the Kurds began another uprising against the Ba'athists. The revolt was violently put down. During the same year, Turkey, fighting Kurds on its on territory, bombed Kurdish areas in Northern Iraq, claiming that bases for the terrorist Kurdish Workers Party were located in the region. However, the 2003 invasion of Iraq and the fall of Saddam, brought renewed hope to the Kurds. The newly-elected Iraqi government agreed to re-establish the Kurdistan Regional Government in Northern Iraq. The Kurds have since been working towards developing the area and pushing for democracy in the country. However, most Kurds overwhelmingly favor becoming an independent nation. "In the January 2005 Iraqi elections, 98.7 percent of Kurds voted for full independence rather than reconciliation with Arab Iraq."^[1] Almost no other political or social group in the region is agreeable to the idea of Kurdish independence. Iraq's neighboring countries such as Turkey are particularly opposed to the movement because they fear that an independent Iraqi Kurdistan would enkindle Kurdish independence movements in their own territories. For other uses, see Iraq war (disambiguation). ... This article is about the 2003 invasion of Iraq. ... Official languages: Kurdish and Arabic Capital: Erbil Prime Minister: Nechervan Idris Barzani Area about 80 000 km² Population - Total (2005): - Density: perhaps 5,750,000 40/km² Currency: Iraqi dinar Time zone: UTC+3 National anthem: Ey Reqîb The Kurdish Autonomous Region is a political entity established in 1970...

Nouri al-Maliki was at loggerheads with the leader of ethnic Kurds, who brandished the threat of secession in a growing row over the symbolic issue of flying the Iraqi national flag at government buildings in the autonomous Kurdish north. Maliki's Arab Shi'ite-led government was locked in a dispute with the autonomous Kurdish regional government, which has banned the use of the Iraqi state flag on public buildings. The prime minister issued a blunt statement on Sunday saying: "The Iraqi flag is the only flag that should be raised over any square inch of Iraq." But Mesud Barzani, president of the Iraqi Kurdistan region, told the Kurdish parliament the national leadership were "failures" and that the Iraqi flag was a symbol of his people's past oppression by Baghdad: "If at any moment we, the Kurdish people and parliament, consider that it is in our interests to declare independence, we will do so and we will fear no one." The dispute exposes a widening rift between Arabs and Kurds, the second great threat to Iraq's survival as a state after the growing sectarian conflict between Arab Sunnis and Shi'ites.^[2] Nouri Kamel Mohammed Hassan al-Maliki (Arabic: Ù†ÙˆØ±ÙŠ ÙƒØ§Ù…Ù„ Ø§Ù„Ù…Ø§Ù„ÙƒÙŠ, transliterated NÅ«rÄ« KÄmil al-MÄlikÄ«; born c. ... Languages Kurdish Religions Predominantly Sunni Muslim also some Shia, Yazidism, Yarsan, Judaism, Christianity Related ethnic groups other Iranian peoples (Talysh Baluch Gilak Bakhtiari Persians) The Kurds are an ethnic group who consider themselves to be indigenous to a region often referred to as Kurdistan, an area which includes adjacent parts... Massoud Barzani (Kurdish: MesÃ»d BarzanÃ®, Arabic: Ù…Ø³Ø¹ÙˆØ¯ Ø¨Ø§Ø±Ø§Ø²Ø§Ù†ÙŠ) (born August 16, 1946) is the President of the Autonomous Kurdish Government in Iraq and leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party. ... Anthem Ey ReqÃ®b (English: Hey Guardian) Location of Iraqi Kurdistan (dark green) with respect to Iraq (light green) on a map of the Middle East. ... For other uses, see Arab (disambiguation). ...

Assyrians

The Aramaic-speaking Christian Assyrians are the indigenous people of Iraq and descendants of those who ruled the territory out of ancient Assyria. There are an estimated 800,000 Assyrians remaining in Iraq, the larger concentration of them is scattered worldwide (see Assyrian diaspora). They also claim to be Iraq's third largest ethnic group after the Arabs and the Kurds. Image File history File links FlagofAssyria. ... Image File history File links FlagofAssyria. ... Proposed State of Assyria The Flag of the Assyrian People. ... Assyrians in Iraq number at an estimated 1,300,000. ... Aramaic is a group of Semitic languages with a 3,000-year history. ... Topics in Christianity Movements Â· Denominations Â· Other religions Ecumenism Â· Preaching Â· Prayer Music Â· Liturgy Â· Calendar Symbols Â· Art Â· Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul Â· Church Fathers Constantine Â· Athanasius Â· Augustine Anselm Â· Aquinas Â· Palamas Â· Luther Calvin Â· Wesley Arius Â· Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury Â· Catholic Pope Coptic Pope Â· Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box: Christianity is... It has been suggested that Assyrian people be merged into this article or section. ... For other uses, see Assyria (disambiguation). ... Since World War I, the Assyrian diaspora has steadily increased so that there are now more Assyrians living in western and eastern European countries (including Australia) and North America, than in the Middle East. ...

Persecution of the Assyrians began early in Iraq's history. In 1932, the British Mandate of Iraq ended and King Faisal I took the reins of power. In 1933, however, the Assyrians refused to sign a declaration of loyalty to King Faisal. This led to mass deportations and massacres of Assyrians in Northern Iraq. The death toll estimates at roughly 3,000. To this day, Assyrians mark August 7 as their martyrs day. Year 1932 (MCMXXXII) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1932 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The British Mandate of Iraq was a League of Nations Class A mandate under Article 22 and entrusted to Britain when the Ottoman Empire was divided in 1919 by the Treaty of Versailles following World War I. This award was completed on April 25, 1920, at the San Remo conference... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Year 1933 (MCMXXXIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... It has been suggested that Assyrian people be merged into this article or section. ... is the 219th day of the year (220th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

The Assyrians also came under persecution during Saddam Hussein's Ba'athist regime. When Hussein first assumed power, the Assyrian population there numbered 2 million to 2.5 million. Many have fled to neighboring countries such as Jordan and Syria, or have emigrated to Europe and the U.S. The United Nations High Commission for Refugees reports that half a million Iraqi Christians have registered for temporary asylum in Syria. ^[3] During the Iran-Iraq War, many were recruited to the armies of both sides. This resulted in Assyrians in Iraq killing Assyrians in Iran. It was estimated that 60,000 Assyrians were killed during the conflict). For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... Motto: (Out Of Many, One) (traditional) In God We Trust (1956 to date) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington D.C. Largest city New York City None at federal level (English de facto) Government Federal constitutional republic - President George Walker Bush (R) - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence from... Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) (established December 14, 1950) protects and supports refugees at the request of a government or the United Nations and assists in their return or resettlement. ... The Assyrians are an ethnic group found in what is today Iraq, Iran, Turkey, Syria, and Lebanon, who are speakers of various neo-Aramaic languages. ...

With the 2003 invasion of Iraq, some Assyrians felt a renewed hope at possibly being granted their own autonomy. However, many became targets for the Iraqi insurgency, ultimately reducing their numbers even more. According to local organisations, about 150,000 Assyrians are believed to have left the country since the US occupation began in 2003. ^[4] The Iraqi insurgency denotes groups using armed resistance against the US-led Coalition occupation of Iraq. ...

Still, there is a push for Assyrian autonomy in Iraq, particularly in the Ninawa region where the biblical Assyrian capital of Nineveh was located. Although little has been done so far to establish this, some voices from within the new Iraqi government appear to welcome the possibility of Assyrian autonomy. For example, on February 24, 2006, Dr. Mohammad Ihsan, Minister of Human Rights in the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq stated "We don't mind Iraqi Christians concentrating anywhere they wish, and establishing a new province for themselves in the Nineveh plain, and bringing together Iraqi Christians from all over the world and their return to their houses and towns." On January 29, 2006, a set of car bombs exploded outside four Assyrian churches in Baghdad and Kirkuk killing four worshippers and injuring many more. This led to demonstrations by Assyrians around the world demanding Assyrian autonomy in Iraq. Ninawa (in Arabic: Ù†ÛŒÙ†ÙˆØ§ ,in kurdish: Neynewa, in Assyrian: Nineveh) is a governorate (province) in Iraq, and the Arabic name for the biblical city of Nineveh in Assyria. ... , For other uses, see Nineveh (disambiguation). ... is the 55th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Anthem Ey ReqÃ®b (English: Hey Guardian) Location of Iraqi Kurdistan (dark green) with respect to Iraq (light green) on a map of the Middle East. ... is the 29th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Kirkuk (also spelled Karkuk or Kerkuk; Arabic: ÙƒØ±ÙƒÙˆÙƒ, KirkÅ«k; Kurdish: ÙƒÙ‡â€ŒØ±ÙƒÙˆÙˆÙƒ, KerkÃ»k; Syriac: ÜÜªÜ¦Ü—Ü, Arrapha; Persian: Ú©Ø±Ú©ÙˆÚ©; Turkish: KerkÃ¼k) is a city in northern Iraq and capital of Taamim Governorate. ...

Iraqi Turkmen

The Iraqi Turkmen also claim to be the third largest ethnic group in Iraq, though the latest election showed that they number far less than claimed, only taking one seat in the whole of Iraq. They reside exclusively in the north, particulatly in areas such as Mosul and Kirkuk. When the Ba'ath party took over Baghdad, it declared in the constitution that schools were prohibited from using the Turkish language and banned Turkish-language media in Iraq. By the 1980s, Hussein prohibited the public use of the Turkish language completely. After the toppling of the Ba'athists, tensions started to rise between the Kurds and the Iraqi Turkmen. Assignations and acquisitions between the two sides made Kirkuk the only violent non-Arab city in Iraq during the aftermath of the U.S-led war. The violence has slowly died down and on January 30, 2006, the President of Iraq, Jalal Talabani, said "Kurds are working on a plan to give Iraqi Turkmen autonomy in areas where they are a majority in the new constitution they're drafting for the Kurdistan Region of Iraq."^[5] Image File history File links Iraqi_Turkmen_UNPO_flag. ... Image File history File links Iraqi_Turkmen_UNPO_flag. ... The Iraqi Turkmen (also spelled Turkomen, Turcoman, and Turkman) are a distinct Turkic ethnic group living in northern Iraq, notably in the cities of Arbil, Tal Afar, Kirkuk, and Mosul. ...

Mandaeans

Mandaeans (also known as Subbi and Sabianism (Arabic: صابئية)) are one of the smallest religious groups in the world with only circa 70,000 followers worldwide. And historically speaking, the Mandaeism is one of the ancient religions of Iraq and certainly one of the first monotheistic religions. Religions Mandaeism Scriptures Ginza Rba, Qolusta Languages Mandaic, Arabic, Aramaic Mandaeism or Mandaeanism is a monotheistic religion with a strongly dualistic worldview. ...

The Iraq Mandaean community, in the pre 2003 war period, was the most important in the world with 30-50,000^[6] of the 70,000 total living in the country mainly in the area around the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

Given the peaceful ethos of Mandaeans and lack of missionary movement within the faith they had traditionally formed a successful community with their Sunni and Shia neighbors and were considered “people of the book” which Islamically speaking allows them to practice religion and integrate into Iraq society even though technically this is incorrect as they are neither Jews nor Christians.

Mandaeans consider themselves Iraqi and have supported the Iraqi patriotically and served in the army during various conflicts. They were considered an economically successful community, and had achieved high levels in Iraqi society like gaining a high regard as silversmiths and goldsmiths ^[7]

During the Saddam administration

For Mandaeans the rule of Saddam was a period of mixed fortune. From his rise to power in 1979 the Mandaean community was viewed with suspicion, as other non Sunni citizens, and were kept out of the political sphere. Mandaeans also suffered during Saddam's 1991-1993 purge of the marshlands between Basra, Amara and Nasiriya which reduced the Mandaean population there from circa 6,000 to fewer than 2,000^[8].

The government of Saddam though oppressive was fundamentally a secular movement and had a degree of religious tolerance, and due to the strict rule of law this offered a degree of protection to the Mandaean and other minority groups.

"We will set up a temple for you," Saddam told Hilo and his followers. "Iraqis have religious freedom, whether they are Muslims, Christians or Sabaeans,” Saddam Hussein 2001.

Post Saddam and the Iraq war of 2003

Following the removal of the government of Saddam Hussein the plight of the Mandaean community has been international news.

Being such a small community the Mandaeans do not enjoy the same militia protection and this has left them vulnerable to the extremist elements in both the Sunni and Shia communities. This has led to numerous instances of torture, rape, theft and murder^[9]

These very real threats coupled with the inability of the US and Iraqi government to offer protection has resulted in the Mandaean population falling from circa 50,000 to less than 13,000 (September 2005) ^[10] and 5,000 (March 2007)^[11] ethnically cleansing them from Iraqi society.

There is no plan to protect the Mandaean community within Iraq with much of the remaining population expected to seek asylum which at present is the only viable assistance the coalition can offer.

At present the Iraq Mandaean refugees are mostly located in Syria, Jordan and Turkey and many are expected to join other small communities in Europe and the US, this Diaspora coupled with the restrictive conversion and marriage traditions threatens to end the viability of the world’s oldest Gnostic religion.

Other groups

Iraq is also home to several other minorities, though their numbers have shrunk over the course of the country's rocky history.

The Armenians, like their Assyrian neighbors, are Christians. As a result, many have become targets for the insurgency as well, forcing many to flee to Syria or Lebanon. The Armenian community was once a thriving community with football clubs (Nadi Armeni) and other contribution to Iraq's young history. Today, there is only one Armenian village left in Northern Iraq, while most Armenians in live in Baghdad, their population is estimated at 17,000. A player (wearing the red kit) has penetrated the defence (in the white kit) and is taking a shot at goal. ... Baghdad (Arabic: ) is the capital of Iraq and of Baghdad Governorate. ...

Although historically significant, the Jewish community of Iraq currently numbers only about 100 people. Many fled to Israel during persecutions in the 1950s and '60s due to the Arab-Israeli Conflict (see also History of the Jews in Iraq). Combatants Arab nations Israel Arab-Israeli conflict series History of the Arab-Israeli conflict Views of the Arab-Israeli conflict International law and the Arab-Israeli conflict Arab-Israeli conflict facts, figures, and statistics Participants Israeli-Palestinian conflict Â· Israel-Lebanon conflict Â· Arab League Â· Soviet Union / Russia Â· Israel, Palestine and the... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

There are very few Persians in Iraq, though they once constituted a sizeable number. Many were expelled since the 1960s and even more so during the Iran-Iraq War. Many Iraqi Persians returned to Iraq after Iraq war in 2003. Combatants Iran Kurdish Peshmerga Iraq Peoples Mujahedin of Iran Commanders Ruhollah Khomeini Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani Ali Shamkhani Mostafa Chamran â€ Saddam Hussein Ali Hassan al-Majid Strength 305,000 soldiers 500,000 Pasdaran and Basij militia 900 tanks 1,000 armored vehicles 3,000 artillery pieces 470 aircraft 750 helicopters...

Iraq's Roma (Qawliya) minority was looked down upon as second-class citizens under Ba'ath party rule. Qawliya had some protection from being persecuted, however. The small village safe havens of the Qawliya have vanished with Saddam's overthrow, making them an easy target for Iranian-backed religious militia groups, such as the Badr Organization or Muqtada al-Sadr's Mehdi Army. Many of their villages have been taken over by such militias, and this has forced Qawliya to flee to the north. Iraq's Roma trace their roots to Spain and India, from where they migrated during the 19th century. Languages Romani, languages of native region Religions Christianity, Islam Related ethnic groups South Asians (Desi) The Roma (singular Rom; sometimes Rroma, Rrom) or Romanies are an ethnic group living in many communities all over the world. ... The Qawliya are a small Roma minority in Iraq. ... Badr Organization (Arabic: Ù…Ù†Ø¸Ù…Ø© Ø¨Ø¯Ø± ) (previously known as Badr Brigade or Bader Corps -- not to be confused with the Badr Brigade in the Jordanian Army) was the armed wing of the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council (SIIC). ... Muqtada al-Sadr ( MuqtadÄ aá¹£-á¹¢adr) is the fourth son of a famous Iraqi Shiâ€˜a cleric, the late Grand Ayatollah Mohammad Mohammad Sadeq al-Sadr. ... The Mahdi Army, also known as the Mehdi Army or Jaish-i-Mahdi, is a militia force created by the Iraqi radical Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr in June of 2003. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Today, there are around 650,000 Yezidis in Iraq. Yezidis are ethnically Kurdish, but many of those in Iraq do not see themselves as Kurdish in terms of ethnicity, culture, and religion^{[citation needed]}. This has led to Kurdish authorities forcing Yezidis to register as Kurdish during the 2005 elections^{[citation needed]}. Peshmerga troops have controlled Yezidi areas near Mosul since 2003. A predominant Yezidi politician that spoke out against Kurdish leaders was assassinated in the spring of 2005^{[citation needed]}. Last year, Yezidi representatives complained that the $12 million approved for projects in Yezidi areas in Sinjar had been blocked by the intervention of Kurdish political leaders in Mosul and instead was used for a smaller Kurdish village^{[citation needed]}. The Yezidi or Yazidi (Kurdish; Êzidî) are adherents of a small Middle Eastern religion with ancient origins. ... Peshmerga, peshmarga or peshmerge (Kurdish: pÃªÅŸmerge) is the term used by Kurds to refer to armed Kurdish fighters. ... Sinjar is a small town in northwestern Iraq near the Syrian border, with an estimate population in the 2006 census of about 39,875 residents [1]. The wall and other evidence at a huge mound in northeastern Syria known as Tell Hamoukar indicate a complex government dating back at least...

There are about 60,000 - 400,000 Shabaks in Iraq. Despite having their own language and culture unique from other groups, Kurdish authorities have attempted to Kurdify the Shabaks by occupying Shabak villages and referring to them as "Kurdish Shabaks". In 2005, two Assyrians were killed and four Shabaks were wounded by the KDP during a demonstration organized by the Democratic Shabak Coalition, a group which wants separate representation for the Shabak community. ^[12] The Shabak people are a minority group of Iraq who live in the province of Nineveh. ... Kurdification is a term used to describe a cultural change in which something ethnically non-Kurdish is made to become Kurdish. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Founded by Mustafa Barzani, the legendary Kurd who fought numerous revolts against Baghdad with success. ...

Contents

Kurds

Assyrians

Iraqi Turkmen

Mandaeans

During the Saddam administration

Post Saddam and the Iraq war of 2003

Other groups

See also

External links

References

Contents

Kurds GA_googleFillSlot("encyclopedia_square");

Assyrians

Iraqi Turkmen

Mandaeans

During the Saddam administration

Post Saddam and the Iraq war of 2003

Other groups

See also

External links

References

Kurds