Immigration from Iraq Because of Religion - Assignment Example

14 June Immigration from Iraq Because of Religion Introduction Iraq is one of the most ethnically-rich nations of the world; however, perpetual wars, countless dictatorships and unfair government policies have contributed towards the displacement and migration of millions of Iraqis. Violence has caused the country to become highly fragmented with some regions of the nations becoming associated with certain religions or ethnicities. Christians are a minority in this land and have not been spared from the wrath of Muslim extremists who believe that their nation should be entirely Islamic. Religion and immigration in Iraq Iraq is a predominantly Islamic country with about 95% percent of them ascribing to this faith; however, even this group is split between the Sunni minority and the Shiite majority (Chanaa 15). These members also have an Arabic character or ethnicity with the exception of the Kurds who represent more than ten percent of the population. Christians used to account for about 4% of the population but their numbers dramatically dwindled after the US invasion of the nation in 2003 (Chanaa 15). Currently, the proportion of Iraqi Christian immigrants has significantly increased owing to a number of political and social factors. First, Iraq has always given Christians a minority status in which they feel as though they are second class citizens who are vulnerable to injustices at any time. Furthermore, the law has historically minimised their ability to express themselves freely in the nation even though this has often been disguised by constitutional provisions that claim to respect the freedom of conscience (Salloum 60). In the political arena, Christians are scarcely afforded the right to become leaders in government, security organs or the military. Such institutional discrimination has ensured that Christians in this nation lack the ability to become influential in their society, so a number of them now have an even greater impetus to leave Iraq. Many Christians have not forgotten the history of oppression that they have been subjected especially in 1915, 1933, 1961 and 1975. All these attacks created numerous villages of Iraqi immigrants in Syria and other surrounding nations. The 1975 incident was accompanied by the burning of Christian villages that caused the displacement of thousands of Iraqi Christians (Rassam 23). Continued discrimination and persecution of Christians was revived in 2003 after the US-led invasion against Iraq and Afghanistan; this chaos and sectarian violence heightened in 2006. At the time, there was renewed hatred of the West and Christianity in particular with many viewing Iraqi Christians as a symbol of western domination in their land. This caused many Christians in that nation to feel insecure, and many of them fled from the nation into other countries like Jordan and Syria for safety (INFPA 8). Owing to the continued violence against Christian minorities in Iraq, some political leaders warmed up to the idea of a neutral zone where Christians could live freely. This was called the plain of Nineveh, and some critics claim that it has the danger of turning Iraq into a nation of religious and cultural enclaves where people cannot interact. It is also seen by some as a sign of the government’s inability to protect its people’s fundamental religious and humanitarian rights. Part of that policy has been implemented alongside other strategies being pursued by the group; some people prefer to simply leave the country while others are calling for international assistance. The latter approach also has its challenges because some local Iraqis may interpret it as interference from western forces in the country’s affairs. Overall, because of these historical problems, Iraqi Christians are decreasing by the day; in 2013, it is estimated that they reached a meagre 400, 000, yet their numbers stood at ¼ million in 1987 and 1.2 million in 1990s. These dwindling numbers of Christians show that several members of the group are now looking elsewhere for safety since their own country cannot provide it. Violence against Christians is still rife in the currently today and over the past five years, with most of it taking place in Nineveh where many Christians displaced from other parts of Iraq escaped to. In 2010 February, it was reported that some Christians were attacked in Mosul just prior to the election (the province initially considered a safety zone) (IRB 15). In May of that same year, 100 students were hurt when a bomb carrying Christian students heading to the Nineveh area was planted in their buses (IRB 28). In October of that year, 120 members of the Catholic Church were held hostage by armed terrorists with 56 Christians killed (IRB 33). In 2011, 13 Christians were attacked in Baghdad with 5 of them abducted by extremists. In December of that year, 1000 Christians lost their businesses to riots organised by extremist Kurds. In 2013, 50 people were wounded owing to a bomb attack against a Christian politician in Kirkuk. 34 people died in December 2013 owing to a bomb attack placed near 3people (IRB 41). In 2014, it is reported that in this month of June some churches were looted and burnt with the attackers claiming that the only go is Allah. Conclusion It appears that Christians in Iraq will continue to flee the country or face extermination as the safe haven (Nineveh) that they ran for refuge has now been compromised. The situation for members of this faith has gotten worse over the years with many of them bearing the brunt of violence for their beliefs. Institutional mechanisms have failed to protect these citizens and prompted them to search for security in another part of the country. The group shows what religious intolerance can do to a nation, especially when the minority are viewed as second-class citizens who have been historically condemned. Works Cited Chaana, Lerba. Research guide: Iraq. 2007. Web. 14 Jun. 2014. http://www.forcedmigration.org/research-resources/expert-guides/iraq/fmo015.pdf INFPA. Iraqis in Jordan. 2012. Web. 14 Jun. 2014. http://www.dos.gov.jo/dos_home_a/main/Analasis_Reports/Iraqis%20in%20Jordan/Iraqis%20in%20Jordan.pdf IRB. Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada: Iraq: Situation of Christians in the north, the Kurdistan region, and Baghdad, including incidents of violence and displacement; government protection [IRQ104716.E]. 2013. Web.14 Jun. 2014 Retrieved from http://www.ecoi.net/local_link/268522/383084_en.html Rassam, Suha. The Origins of Christianity in Iraq. Masarat 14(2010): 23. Print. Salloum, Saad. Minorities in Iraq: Memory, identity and challenges. Masarat for Cultural and Media Development 4(2013): 59-61. Print. Read More