UNHCR's ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES FOR ASSESSING THE ...

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