UNHCR's ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES FOR ASSESSING THE ...
UNHCR's ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES FOR ASSESSING THE ...
UNHCR's ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES FOR ASSESSING THE ...
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and gatherings, Shi’ite religious leaders and Shi’ite civilians at large. Shi’ite militias are<br />
held responsible for attacks on Sunni mosques, religious leaders and Sunni neighborhoods.<br />
Both groups have conducted kidnappings, torture, rape and execution-style killings of<br />
persons belonging to, or perceived to belong to, the other sect. Mixed Shi’ite-Sunni<br />
families have suffered discrimination and, at times, physical violence, from both sides.<br />
Systematic forced displacement is also occurring, with both Shi’ite and Sunni armed groups<br />
seeking to drive the other community from their areas. Areas particularly affected by<br />
Sunni-Shi’ite sectarian violence are those with (formerly) mixed populations.<br />
Members of non-Muslim religious minorities (e.g., Christians, Sabaean-Mandaeans,<br />
Yazidis, Baha’i, Kaka’i and Jews) have increasingly become victims of sectarian violence,<br />
often perceived as a threat to the Islamic nature of the State or as supporters of the US-led<br />
invasion and the current Iraqi Government. Some groups have been branded as infidels<br />
while religious edicts (fatwas) have been issued against others, calling for their conversion<br />
to Islam or death. Members of these groups have suffered discrimination, harassment,<br />
inability to practice their religion, restrictions on movement, and acts of violence<br />
(destruction of property, including attacks on religious sites; kidnappings; rape; forced<br />
conversion and murder). Women of these faiths have been particularly affected, often<br />
forced to comply with strict Islamic dress codes and unable to move freely due to fear of<br />
kidnapping or rape. Perceived as wealthy (due to their traditional professions and generally<br />
good education) and lacking State or other protection, members of non-Muslim religious<br />
minorities are also often the victims of general criminality, which also, however, bears<br />
a sectarian component.<br />
Ethnic Groups<br />
A number of different ethnic groups exist in Iraq, including, for example, Kurds, Arabs,<br />
Turkmen, ethnic-based Christian groups (Assyrians, Chaldeans, Armenians), Yazidis,<br />
Shabak and Roma. Inter-ethnic tensions and violence have become increasingly prevalent<br />
in ethnically mixed areas of the country that had been the focus of previous governments’<br />
Arabization policies (e.g., Governorates of Kirkuk, Ninewa, Salah Al-Din and Diyala).<br />
Kurdish parties have been actively seeking to incorporate these areas into the Region of<br />
Kurdistan. Many ethnic minorities have charged that Kurdish political parties and military<br />
forces have subjected them to violence, forced assimilation, discrimination, political<br />
marginalization, arbitrary arrests and detention. Insurgent groups are reported to actively<br />
stir ethnic tensions and violence in these areas, in particular among the Arab and Kurdish<br />
populations. Inter-ethnic violence is reportedly on the rise in view of the referendum on the<br />
status of these disputed areas scheduled for the end of 2007.<br />
The Roma (Kawliyah), an ethnic group with its own language, traditions and culture, has<br />
long suffered discrimination in Iraq, although it received some protection under the former<br />
regime. Since the fall of that regime, the Kawliyah have been increasingly targeted by<br />
conservative local communities and members of Shi’ite militias, who object to their<br />
differing social norms and associate them with the former regime or the ongoing<br />
insurgency.<br />
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