Minorities in iraq pdf

International law iraq has ratified many key human rights treaties, including several that directly affect the status of minorities. Despite their significant cultural and intellectual contributions to the diversity. Since 2003, violence and instability in iraq has put minorities at risk of atrocities. Mokhtar lamani, senior visiting fellow iraq oil report. Read minorities in iran online, read in mobile or kindle. Current status of iraqs minorities and vulnerable groups. Article 20 of the 2005 iraqi constitution enshrines the right to political participation and.

The nineveh plains and the future of minorities in iraq. A history of iraq ratives, playing themselv es out at di. Iraqs minorities on the verge of disappearance minority rights group. Ethnic cleansing on a historic scale the islamic states systematic targeting of minorities in northern iraq amnesty international september 2014 index. Usip and the kurdistan regional government gathered a panel from disparate sides of this problem to discuss how to help iraqs minority groups rebuild their communities and contribute to a. While many issues discussed in this report are common to minorities from iraq and syria.

Although a great variety of minority situations exist, common to all is the fact that, too often, minorities face multiple forms of discrimination resulting in marginalisation and exclusion. Pdf religious minorities in iraq saad salloum academia. Iraqs ethnic and religious minorities, along with other vulnerable populations, continue to face threats of violence, religious discrimination, exclusion, and denial of their property rights. Issues in the 115th congress congressional research service r45096 version 6 updated 3 table 1.

Issues in the 115th congress federation of american. The protection needs of minorities from syria and iraq 5 executive summary the whole population of syria and iraq is feeling the toll of the armed conflicts in their countries. The minority rights group international said in its report that iraqs minorities have remained targeted for reasons related to. Violence against them has increased dramatically in areas of iraqi territory that have fallen under the control of the islamist terrorist group that has declared itself the islamic state known variously as is, isis or isil, and by the arabic acronym daesh or. Iraq, syria, and lebanon, and highlights key domestic remedies that could serve as models for ensuring greater social. This report seeks to document the plight of the five main groups most affected by the conflict since june 2014.

The situation of minorities in iraq 3 the advance of the islamic state of iraq and alsham isis the islamic state of iraq and alsham isis is the latest incarnation in a long line of extremist islamist insurgency movements whose origins date back to the invasion of iraq in 2003. In 2018, there continued to be significant challenges to religious freedom conditions in iraq, trending toward modest but fragile improvement. Sep 08, 2014 the past and future of iraqs minorities displaced people from the minority yazidi sect, who fled violence in the iraqi town of sinjar, make breakfast at bajed kadal refugee camp, southwest of. It points to the cultural bankruptcy of iraq that will impoverish and deprive the country of its sources of strength. Eprs minorities in iraq members research service page 2 of 8 iraqs ethnic and religious diversity iraqs population is predominantly muslim. The question of majorities and minorities has dominated the iraqi political scene since the americanled invasion of 2003. Minorities in iraq pushed to the brink of existence summary iraqi minorities t urkmens, yazidis, christians and other smaller communities have long been discriminated against in iraq. Iraq accommodates several religious, ethnic, and national minorities and some of whom have inhabited the. Ethnically and linguistically they are most closely related to iranians and have existed in iraq since before the arabislamic conquest. Majorities and minorities in postisis iraq contemporary. The ruins of ur, babylon and other ancient cities are situated in iraq, as is the legendary location of the garden of eden. The central authority is dominated by persians who constitute 51% of irans population. The past and future of iraqs minorities the washington post.

Iraqi minorities turkmens, yazidis, christians and other smaller communities have long been discriminated against in iraq. Legal framework, documentation, and human rights 6 executive summary iraqs challenges to building security, stability, and a nation state premised on the rule of law are numerous and complex. The protection of minorities from syria and iraq iraq. Community leaders estimate their numbers today may be as high as 1. Majorities and minorities in postisis iraq contemporary arab affairs. Minorities in iraq include various ethnic and religious groups. Abuse of minority rights in iraq has created a phenomenon of internationally displaced persons, with ethnic and religious minorities choosing to leave the country in favor of neighboring countries like syria and jordan, and seeking asylum in western european countries like sweden, the uk and germany. Usip is working with iraqi minority group leaders to address the challenges faced by ethnic and religious minorities in iraq. Pdf minorities in iraq memory, identity and challenges. Building a decentralized administration as called for in the constitution can provide much needed support for minority communities across iraq. Mandaeans although an ethnic and religious minority, consider themselves iraqi and have supported the iraqi.

Foreword minorities in the wind in iraqs extremely diverse ethnoreligious map, there is great focus on the three major communal groups shiites, sunnis and. The middle east comprises a myriad of different religious, ethnic, and tribal minorities, all of which have coexisted down through history and preserved their rich identities and traditions over the centuries. However, the recent history of minorities in iraq has been one of. Despite their significant cultural and intellectual contributions to. Almost 75% of iraqs population lives in the flat, alluvial plain stretching southeast from tikrit to the persian gulf. Their religion, like that of other minorities in iraq and the middle east as. The question of minorities is always a very sensitive issue in the middle east. Pdf media and minorities issues in iraq saad salloum. Some minorities, such as the mandeans, the kakai, the shabak, or the shia arabs only appear sporadically in the media, usually when outlets report on politicians acknowledging the minority groups cultural or religious celebrations. The quagmire that increases complexity of minority issues in iraq is that the security.

Iraq is the region known outside the islamic world as mesopotamia. Minorities in iraq memory, identity and challenges masarat for cultural and media development 20 3. Improving security for minorities in iraq refworld. Security and protection march 2016 pdf between the millstones. This will create a symbolic or a nominal representation at best, but will lack effectiveness. It is a prestudy and a part of the programs larger aim to initiate a major project on. Minorities in iraq centre for international governance innovation. Institute for human rights abo akademi university, 1993 pp.

Saddam hussein and his party the baath party harshly oppressed minorities in iraq. Ethnic and religious minorities summary iran is home to approximately 70. Institute for international law and human rights minorities and the law in iraq 5 overview and key recommendations 1. Participation in public life by preti taneja abbreviations 2 executive summary 3 map 4 minorities in iraq in 2011 an overview 5 research methodology 7 freedom of religion and belief 11 political participation discrimination and difficulty accessing public services 15 minority women 23 ways forward 29 recommendations 31. The protection needs of minorities from syria and iraq 3 abbreviations 3rp regional refugee and resilience plan ai amnesty international aina assyrian international news agency cat convention against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment cedaw convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women. Violence against them has increased dramatically in areas of iraqi territory that have fallen under the control of the islamist. This report complements the existing information base by improving understanding of the protection needs of religious and ethnic minority groups from syria and iraq. Minority rights in iraq united states institute of peace. Cigi special report january 2009 minorities in iraq. A strong sunni extremist presence as well as confusion over the provision of protection for minorities by. Introduction as home to one of the oldest civilizations in the world, iraqs history includes mesopotamia, ubaid, sumer, akkad, assyria and babylon. On august 1, usip held an examination of the work required to protect and include minorities, and the roles that can be played by iraqs national government, the kurdistan regional government, and the united states. The iraq mandaean and sabian community, in the pre 1990 gulf war period, was the most important in the world with 30,00050,000 of the 70,000 total living in the country mainly in the area around the tigris and euphrates rivers. The situation of ethnic and religious minorities briefing.

The centre for international governance innovation. Muslims are divided into two groups, going back to the early years of islam. A guide to minorities in iraqi memory, identity and challenges first edition baghdad beirut, 20 translation into english. Mde 140112014 4 summary the group that calls itself the islamic state is1 has carried out ethnic cleansing2 on a historic scale in northern iraq. They are located mostly in southern iraq, with the largest community residing in basra. Black iraqis are largely the descendants of east african migrants and slaves whose presence in iraq dates back to the ninth century. As a result, what was considered a remedy for iraq s political ills opened the gates for. The other victims january 2009 page 3 of 15 minorities make up only 5% of the total population, they comprise more than 20% of the displaced population. All countries in the world include persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, enriching the diversity of their societies. Institute for international law and human rights iraqs minorities and other vulnerable groups. The human rights situation facing minorities in iraq remains in dire straits on all levels. Nearly two thirds are shia and the other third is mainly sunni. Iranians speak diverse indoiranian, semitic, armenian, and turkic languages.

Nov 30, 2016 the protection of minorities from syria and iraq. Some of iraqs minorities have not even been mentioned once during the period studied. For many of these groups, including christians and yezidis, this was the worst of a long list of genocides going back over a thousand years. By ratifying the international covenant on economic, social and. The situation of ethnic and religious minorities restrictions on the right to use minority languages minorities in iraq are also subject to severe linguistic restrictions which impact their right to freedom of expression. Members of iraqi religious and ethnic minorities have been targeted by a campaign of. Institute for international law and human rights minorities and the law in iraq 2 supporting smaller or more scattered minority groups in iraq. Some minorities, such as the mandeans, the kaka i, the shabak, or the shi a arabs only appear sporadically in the media, usually when outlets report on politicians acknowledging the minority groups cultural or religious celebrations. Download minorities in iran ebook free in pdf and epub format.

The past and future of iraqs minorities displaced people from the minority yazidi sect, who fled violence in the iraqi town of sinjar, make breakfast at bajed kadal refugee camp, southwest of. Approximately 95 percent of the population of iraq is muslim. Iraqs minorities on the verge of disappearance july 2016 pdf from crisis to catastrophe. When the islamic state of iraq and syria isis stormed northern iraq and took over mosul in the summer of 2014, it ran a parallel campaign of genocide against the minorities of the nineveh plains. A pattern of mass atrocities perpetrated against iraqi minorities by sunni and shia extremists since 2003. Limits on freedom of belief of the jews official legal recognition the 2005 iraqi constitution did not mention jews among the religious minorities of iraq in article 2. Yezidis, among the range of minority groups in iraq. As a result, what was considered a remedy for iraqs political ills opened the gates for. Majority in danger the risk of extinction and oneway migration threaten not only minorities but also, by extension, iraq s identity, prosperity and existence. Kurds are an indoeuropean people of the iranian branch.

Iraqs ethnic and religious minorities have been mur dered, maimed or. Republic of iraq united states department of justice. As an occupying power, the us enshrined sectarianism in postsaddam iraq through divisive policies and structures that continue to pervade the political institution from top to bottom. The minority rights group international said in its report that iraqs minorities have remained targeted for reasons related to their religion or ethnic affiliation since the us. Along with this comes a cultural heritage of diverse ethnic groups and religions, which contributes to the richness of iraqs identity and culture. The iraqi government continued to show a lack of willingness or ability to provide proper security for vulnerable religious and ethnic minorities.

The ancient nation of iraq is home to dozens of ethnic and religious minorities, from bahai to yezidis. After the death of the prophet muhammad in 632 ce, there arose two different camps within the umma muslim community with. The situation of minorities has become worse as a result of the 2003 iraq war and. Decision makers must consult country information and guidance iraq internal relocation including documentation and feasibility of return. This includes christians, kurds, turkmens, assyrians, and. Issues in the 115th congress congressional research service summary iraqs government declared military victory against the islamic state organization is, aka isisisil in december 2017, but insurgent attacks by remaining is fighters threaten iraqis as they shift their attention toward recovery and the countrys political future. A series of dialogues among civil society leaders and members of parliament has laid the groundwork for future collaboration among these groups, and usip continues to support minority group representatives in creating sustainable mechanisms to promote their rights.