UNHCR's ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES FOR ASSESSING THE ...

themselves infiltrated by radical elements. The void created by the absence of a strong
central government is gradually being filled by militant groups operating from bases in
different areas of Central and Southern Iraq. These groups, whether religious or ethnic,
cannot be considered to be operating as effective authorities in the areas under their control,
as they themselves are the targets of frequent attacks from individuals and groups in those
areas. Absolute allegiance to the ideology of the group is a fundamental requirement, and in
the general absence of the rule of law, arbitrariness and human rights violations are rife.
The highly volatile and fluid political and security situation existing in Central and
Southern Iraq renders the area subject to a great deal of significant unpredictability, with
possibilities of new risks of persecution arising from a wide range of actors anywhere at
anytime.
Furthermore, in the smaller towns and cities, ongoing communalism and lack of state
protection has enforced the need for individuals to stay close to their kinsmen. Any
newcomer, particularly when he/she does not belong to the existing sect, tribes or families,
is liable to be severely discriminated against or subjected to ill-treatment so as to amount to
persecution. Even those who orginated from the area may be perceived as newcomers, if
they left a long time ago and have lost all links with their tribal-based community.
ii. Particular Considerations Relating to Formerly Arabized Areas 789
The increasing ethnic-religious violence in the formerly arabized areas, the highly sensitive
political, ethnic and economic nature of these areas and the risk of further destabilizing the
situation through significant population movements need to be considered when assessing
the availability of an IFA/IRA in these Governorates.
It must be noted that the distribution of land and housing is disputed between the main
ethnic factions. Any access to land granted to newcomers on an ad hoc basis (generally
done in order to increase an ethnic population in a particular area) by authorities in certain
areas is heavily contested by the other ethnic factions, and may have serious consequences
for the ability of individuals to secure protection and/or durably reside there without undue
hardship.
iii. Accessibility
Overall, travel within Central and Southern Iraq is unsafe, with both physical and legal
barriers to travel to and reside in various areas.
789 See also “De-Arabization” and “Kurds, Arabs, Turkmen428F, Ethnic-Based Christian Groups (Assyrians,
Chaldeans, Armenians)429F, Yazidis 430F and Shabak 431F in Ethnically Mixed Areas”.
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