Armenians in Iraq
Encyclopedia
There is a small ethnic minority of Armenians in Iraq, mostly living in the Iraq
i capital of Baghdad
. It is estimated that there are about 15,000 (20,000 before the US invasion of Iraq) Armenians living in the entire country with communities in Baghdad
, Mosul
, Basra
, Kirkuk
and Dohuk.
Some scholarly sources also refer to them as Iraqi Armenians or Armenian Iraqis.
's forced relocation of the Armenians to Iran
in 1604, some of whom subsequently moved on to settle in Iraq. A further 25,000 Armenians arrived in Iraq during the early twentieth century as they fled the persecution of the Armenian Genocide
.
During the 1980s, the Armenians benefited from President Saddam Hussein
's modernization efforts, as the community rebuilt its cultural institutions and even consecrated an imposing cathedral in Baghdad
.
During the Persian Gulf War
, of the 1,500 Armenians living with the predominant Kurd
population in the northern town of Zakho
, three soldiers serving in Saddam Hussein's military were killed in coalition air strikes in Kuwait
, Basra
, and Mosul
, respectively. A count of four Armenian babies were also among the several hundred reported dead in fighting near the Turkish
border during the Gulf War. A further 130 from the town had died fighting in the Iraqi Army
during the Iran–Iraq War.
In October 2007, two Armenian women in Iraq were killed by the Australian private security contractors, Unity Resources Group
, in Almasbah district in Baghdad
.
The Armenian winner of the Miss Iraq competition has gone into hiding out of fear of being targeted by Islamic militants.
However, the decision was more difficult as Armenians have an active community in Iraq, something that the Georgians and the Azerbaijanis do not. There has been valid concern that the decision of Armenia
to send troops to support the U.S. War in Iraq may prompt attacks against Iraq's Armenian population.
In October 2008, Armenia ended its modest military presence in Iraq, citing improved security and the ongoing withdrawal of a much larger Polish army contingent that has supervised Armenian troops deployed in the country.
(also known as Armenian Orthodox) or Armenian Catholic Church
.
St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Apostolic Church (at Younis al Sabaawi Square, Baghdad) is the main church for the Armenians of Iraq. There is also the Saint Vartan Armenian Apostolic Church in Dohuk, northern Iraq.
The Armenian Catholic Archbishopric Church maintains a presence in Baghdad, as does the So does the Armenian Evangelical Church of Baghdad (at Sahat al-Tahriat in Hay al-Wahda (ner of Al-Awall Restoran).
Some Armenian churches were also targets of bombing and some Armenians have died as a result of sectarian fighting in Iraq.
Yaacoub Sarkis was a famous author and researcher in Iraqi arts. He used to hold cultural gatherings in Baghdad's Murabba'a region on the Tigris river, where the Iraqi cultural elite would meet. He is also renowned for the two volume "Al Mabaheth al Iraqiyyah", a definitive guide of Iraqi history and society. He lived well into his eighties before dying in the 1950s.
The two founding members of the Western-style pop group Unknown to No One
, Art Haroutunian and Shant Garabedian, are of Armenian heritage. During the rule of Saddam Hussein
the band could only have its music aired once they sang a song celebrating the dictator
's birthday. Unknown to No One has been given a large amount of publicity in the post-Saddam era.
. Their numbers have increased considerably with wave of new immigration coming from Baghdad and other Iraqi regions after the toppling of Saddam Hussein. Armenians attribute their leaving towards the North to safety concerns, with some Armenian institutions and churches having been targeted by bombings, and some Armenians subject of kidnapping and killings in Baghdad and central regions of Iraq. The Armenians consider the Kurdish-dominated parts of Iraq in general to be much safer areas to live in.
The official authorities in Iraqi Kurdistan have welcomed the newcomer Armenians providing them temporary shelter or more permanent housing.
The armenian in Kurdistan Region have also one representative in the parliament of the Kurdistan region of Iraq.
A small minority of Armenians live in Avzrog
, a village in the Iraq
i province of Dohuk. The village of Avzrog is split into two areas: one populated by Armenians
and the other by Assyrians
. The name of the village comes from the Kurdish language; av - water and zrog - yellow.
It was built for the first time in 1932 when the Armenians of Zakho and its suburbs decided to establish the village and settle in it. The village was subject of destruction in 1975. The Armenian
inhabitants of Avzrog don't speak Armenian
. They use Arabic and Kurdish language
s instead. Despite this, Armenians in Avzrog maintain their Armenian social identity like folklore and names. Avzrog has a total population of about 300 people.
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
i capital of Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
. It is estimated that there are about 15,000 (20,000 before the US invasion of Iraq) Armenians living in the entire country with communities in Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
, Mosul
Mosul
Mosul , is a city in northern Iraq and the capital of the Ninawa Governorate, some northwest of Baghdad. The original city stands on the west bank of the Tigris River, opposite the ancient Assyrian city of Nineveh on the east bank, but the metropolitan area has now grown to encompass substantial...
, Basra
Basra
Basra is the capital of Basra Governorate, in southern Iraq near Kuwait and Iran. It had an estimated population of two million as of 2009...
, Kirkuk
Kirkuk
Kirkuk is a city in Iraq and the capital of Kirkuk Governorate.It is located in the Iraqi governorate of Kirkuk, north of the capital, Baghdad...
and Dohuk.
Some scholarly sources also refer to them as Iraqi Armenians or Armenian Iraqis.
History
The roots of the Armenian community in Iraq can be traced to Shah AbbasAbbas I of Persia
Shāh ‘Abbās the Great was Shah of Iran, and generally considered the greatest ruler of the Safavid dynasty. He was the third son of Shah Mohammad....
's forced relocation of the Armenians to Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
in 1604, some of whom subsequently moved on to settle in Iraq. A further 25,000 Armenians arrived in Iraq during the early twentieth century as they fled the persecution of the Armenian Genocide
Armenian Genocide
The Armenian Genocide—also known as the Armenian Holocaust, the Armenian Massacres and, by Armenians, as the Great Crime—refers to the deliberate and systematic destruction of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire during and just after World War I...
.
During the 1980s, the Armenians benefited from President Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti was the fifth President of Iraq, serving in this capacity from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003...
's modernization efforts, as the community rebuilt its cultural institutions and even consecrated an imposing cathedral in Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
.
Armenians and the political situation
After the launch of the second Iraqi campaign, more than 3,000 Armenians left the country, head of National Management of Armenians in Iraq Paruyr Hakopian stated. “Four years have passed since the launch of military campaign in Iraq by Coalition forces. And I confirm with certainty that the number of Armenians who have immigrated abroad does not exceed this mark,” he noted. Mr. Hakopian said four years ago there were 18,000 Armenians in Iraq and now only 15,000 of them live in the country. Generally during the past 4 years 1,500 Armenians immigrated to Syria, about 1,000 arrived in Armenia and about 500 departed for Jordan,” he stressed.During the Persian Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
, of the 1,500 Armenians living with the predominant Kurd
Kürd
Kürd or Kyurd or Kyurt may refer to:*Kürd Eldarbəyli, Azerbaijan*Kürd Mahrızlı, Azerbaijan*Kürd, Goychay, Azerbaijan*Kürd, Jalilabad, Azerbaijan*Kürd, Qabala, Azerbaijan*Qurdbayram, Azerbaijan...
population in the northern town of Zakho
Zakho
Zakho is a district and a town in Northern Iraq located a few kilometers from the Iraqi-Turkish border.Zakho is a province of the Dohuk Governorate. The city has 200,000 inhabitants. It may have originally begun on a small island in the Little Khabur which currently flows through the city...
, three soldiers serving in Saddam Hussein's military were killed in coalition air strikes in Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
, Basra
Basra
Basra is the capital of Basra Governorate, in southern Iraq near Kuwait and Iran. It had an estimated population of two million as of 2009...
, and Mosul
Mosul
Mosul , is a city in northern Iraq and the capital of the Ninawa Governorate, some northwest of Baghdad. The original city stands on the west bank of the Tigris River, opposite the ancient Assyrian city of Nineveh on the east bank, but the metropolitan area has now grown to encompass substantial...
, respectively. A count of four Armenian babies were also among the several hundred reported dead in fighting near the Turkish
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
border during the Gulf War. A further 130 from the town had died fighting in the Iraqi Army
Iraqi Army
The Iraqi Army is the land component of the Iraqi military, active in various forms since being formed by the British during their mandate over the country after World War I....
during the Iran–Iraq War.
2003 invasion of Iraq
With the invasion of Iraq, the situation for Armenians in Iraq worsened considerably. Armenians have been subject to killings and kidnappings for ransom. Many Armenians have immigrated to other Middle Eastern countries (most notably Syria and Lebanon), Europe, the US, Canada, and Australia. Armenian churches have also been target of bombings by paramilitary groups.In October 2007, two Armenian women in Iraq were killed by the Australian private security contractors, Unity Resources Group
Unity Resources Group
Unity Resources Group is an Australian-owned private military company headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, founded in 2000, which describes itself as having a "diverse client base, spanning government, non-government and multi-national business sectors." The company is mainly staffed by...
, in Almasbah district in Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
.
The Armenian winner of the Miss Iraq competition has gone into hiding out of fear of being targeted by Islamic militants.
Deployment of Armenian troops
Armenia took part in the efforts of the US-led Coalition by sending a group of 46 non-military personnel, including 30 truck drivers, 10 bomb detonation experts, three doctors and three officers. They served the under Polish command in the Shiite city of Karbala and the nearby town of al-Hila. The extent of Armenian participation was far less than the 850 troups sent by neighbouring Georgia or the 150 committed by Azerbaijan.However, the decision was more difficult as Armenians have an active community in Iraq, something that the Georgians and the Azerbaijanis do not. There has been valid concern that the decision of Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
to send troops to support the U.S. War in Iraq may prompt attacks against Iraq's Armenian population.
In October 2008, Armenia ended its modest military presence in Iraq, citing improved security and the ongoing withdrawal of a much larger Polish army contingent that has supervised Armenian troops deployed in the country.
Religion
Armenians in Iraq are mostly members of the Armenian Apostolic ChurchArmenian Apostolic Church
The Armenian Apostolic Church is the world's oldest National Church, is part of Oriental Orthodoxy, and is one of the most ancient Christian communities. Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity as its official religion in 301 AD, in establishing this church...
(also known as Armenian Orthodox) or Armenian Catholic Church
Armenian Catholic Church
|- |The Armenian Catholic Church is an Eastern Catholic Church sui juris in union with the other Eastern Rite, Oriental Rite and Latin Rite Catholics who accept the Bishop of Rome as spiritual leader of the Church. It is regulated by Eastern canon law...
.
St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Apostolic Church (at Younis al Sabaawi Square, Baghdad) is the main church for the Armenians of Iraq. There is also the Saint Vartan Armenian Apostolic Church in Dohuk, northern Iraq.
The Armenian Catholic Archbishopric Church maintains a presence in Baghdad, as does the So does the Armenian Evangelical Church of Baghdad (at Sahat al-Tahriat in Hay al-Wahda (ner of Al-Awall Restoran).
Some Armenian churches were also targets of bombing and some Armenians have died as a result of sectarian fighting in Iraq.
Contributions to Iraqi culture
Armenians have played traditionally an important role in Iraqi culture, particularly in literature and music and in general all arts.Yaacoub Sarkis was a famous author and researcher in Iraqi arts. He used to hold cultural gatherings in Baghdad's Murabba'a region on the Tigris river, where the Iraqi cultural elite would meet. He is also renowned for the two volume "Al Mabaheth al Iraqiyyah", a definitive guide of Iraqi history and society. He lived well into his eighties before dying in the 1950s.
The two founding members of the Western-style pop group Unknown to No One
Unknown to No One
UTN1 or Unknown to No One is an Iraqi pop/rock band formed in 1999 in Baghdad - Iraq. It is notable for being a pioneering group that sings in both Arabic and English, and for being formed under Saddam Hussein's regime. It was founded by Shant Garabedian and Artin Haroutiounian...
, Art Haroutunian and Shant Garabedian, are of Armenian heritage. During the rule of Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti was the fifth President of Iraq, serving in this capacity from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003...
the band could only have its music aired once they sang a song celebrating the dictator
Dictator
A dictator is a ruler who assumes sole and absolute power but without hereditary ascension such as an absolute monarch. When other states call the head of state of a particular state a dictator, that state is called a dictatorship...
's birthday. Unknown to No One has been given a large amount of publicity in the post-Saddam era.
In Iraqi Kurdistan
There have always been pockets of Armenian populations in Iraqi KurdistanIraqi Kurdistan
Iraqi Kurdistan or Kurdistan Region is an autonomous region of Iraq. It borders Iran to the east, Turkey to the north, Syria to the west and the rest of Iraq to the south. The regional capital is Arbil, known in Kurdish as Hewlêr...
. Their numbers have increased considerably with wave of new immigration coming from Baghdad and other Iraqi regions after the toppling of Saddam Hussein. Armenians attribute their leaving towards the North to safety concerns, with some Armenian institutions and churches having been targeted by bombings, and some Armenians subject of kidnapping and killings in Baghdad and central regions of Iraq. The Armenians consider the Kurdish-dominated parts of Iraq in general to be much safer areas to live in.
The official authorities in Iraqi Kurdistan have welcomed the newcomer Armenians providing them temporary shelter or more permanent housing.
The armenian in Kurdistan Region have also one representative in the parliament of the Kurdistan region of Iraq.
Armenians in Avzrog
Avzrog
Avzrog is a village in the Iraqi province of Dohuk. The village is split into two areas: one populated by Armenians and the other by Assyrians.- Etymology :The name of the village comes from the Kurdish language; av means water and zrog - yellow....
, a village in the Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
i province of Dohuk. The village of Avzrog is split into two areas: one populated by Armenians
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
and the other by Assyrians
Assyrian people
The Assyrian people are a distinct ethnic group whose origins lie in ancient Mesopotamia...
. The name of the village comes from the Kurdish language; av - water and zrog - yellow.
It was built for the first time in 1932 when the Armenians of Zakho and its suburbs decided to establish the village and settle in it. The village was subject of destruction in 1975. The Armenian
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
inhabitants of Avzrog don't speak Armenian
Armenian language
The Armenian language is an Indo-European language spoken by the Armenian people. It is the official language of the Republic of Armenia as well as in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The language is also widely spoken by Armenian communities in the Armenian diaspora...
. They use Arabic and Kurdish language
Kurdish language
Kurdish is a dialect continuum spoken by the Kurds in western Asia. It is part of the Iranian branch of the Indo-Iranian group of Indo-European languages....
s instead. Despite this, Armenians in Avzrog maintain their Armenian social identity like folklore and names. Avzrog has a total population of about 300 people.