UNHCR's ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES FOR ASSESSING THE ...

violence and have been subject to regular attacks since 2003. 223 The Brookings Institution/
University of Bern Project on Internal Displacement cited an Iraqi observer saying that the
broader problem of sectarian violence in Iraq was not only an issue between the country’s
Shi’a and Sunni communities, “but rather an organized effort to target all “other”
communities”. 224 Largely without protection on the basis of tribe, militia or political
party, 225 and often perceived as relatively wealthy, non-Muslim minorities are particularly
vulnerable to attacks for perceived threat to the Islamic nature of the state, imputed
affiliation with international actors, break-down of law and order, and general criminality.
There is undoubtedly a strong subjective fear among religious communities in Iraq that
their very existence is at stake. 226
Members of non-Muslim religious minorities have become regular victims of
discrimination, harassment and serious human rights violations, with incidents ranging
from intimidation and threats to the destruction of property, kidnapping, 227 rape, forced
conversion and murder. Along with the deterioration of the situation for Iraqi women in
general due to the strict embracing of Islamic values and traditions as well as the high rate
of criminality, women belonging to religious minority groups are often forced to comply
with strict Islamic dress codes. 228 Their freedom of movement is also restricted due to the
threat of kidnapping and rape. 229
223 UNAMI HRO reported that “(W)hile the initial violence randomly targeted the Arab Sunni community,
allegedly for their unproven association with the destruction of Al Askari Shrine, members of all communities
were negatively affected by the unleashed violence and tit-for-tat attacks”; see UNAMI HRO, February 2006
Human Rights Report, p. 2, see above footnote 165. See also: USCIRF, Iraq: USCIRF Letter to Under
Secretary of State Dobriansky Urges Refugee Protections for Iraqi Religious Minorities, 9 November 2006,
http://www.uscirf.gov/mediaroom/press/2006/november/20061109IraqRefugees.html.
224 Al-Khalidi and Tanner, p. 24-25, see above footnote 161.
225 Christians currently have the following representation in the central government: Wijdan Mikha’il, a town
planner and member of the secular Iraqi National List, is the Minister of Human Rights; Yonadem Kanna of
the Assyrian Democratic Movement is a member of the Council of Representatives.
226 UNAMI HRO indicated that “Sabean-Mandeans continue to be targeted by extremists and their
continuous presence in the country is endangered”; see UNAMI HRO, October 2006 Human Rights Report,
p. 3, see above footnote 66. In an earlier report it said: “Members of Iraqi ethnic, religious or linguistic
minorities feel that their identity and even physical existence is threatened”; see UNAMI HRO, August 2006
Human Rights Report, p. 2 and 13, see above footnote 26.
227 According to UNAMI HRO, “(K)idnappings by criminal gangs have revealed a sectarian dimension”;
see UNAMI HRO, August 2006 Human Rights Report, p. 2 and 8, see above footnote 26.
228 Strict Islamic dress codes includes the requirement that women wear an abaya, a traditional full-length
cloak and a headscarf; see: IRIN, Iraq: Christians live in fear of death squads, 19 October 2006,
http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?reportid=61897. According to the USDOS, Basrah’s Education Director
introduced a rule requiring all females in the schools to cover their hair. The same report states that female
university students in Mosul, even non-Muslims, were required to wear the hijab; see: USDOS, International
Religious Freedom Report 2006 – Iraq, see above footnote 28. UNAMI HRO reported that “(I)ndividuals
continue to face harassment and intimidation by extremist elements if they are not inclined to conform to
traditional dressing. Women, national and religious minorities as well as homosexual were particularly
targeted”; see UNAMI HRO, June 2006 Human Rights Report, p. 8-10, see above footnote 27. See also
“Persons Accused of “Un-Islamic” Behaviour”.
229 UNAMI HRO, August 2006 Human Rights Report, p. 10, see above footnote 26.
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