The Iraqi community faces challenges
On March 30, 2007 a seminar on “Up to date problems of the Iraqi community” was held in “Noravank” Foundation. In his opening speech the director of the Foundation Gagik Harutyunyan attached special importance to the research referring to Diaspora. He pointed out that the Foundation scientifically and practically studies up-to-date social political processes in communities.
The main speaker at the meeting, the leader of the Armenian community in Iraq, Paruir Hakobyan, in his speech outlined the problems the Iraqi community had faced since 2003, after the occupation of Iraq by the US and the collapse of Saddam Hussein’s regime.
In the beginning of 2000 the Iraqi-Armenian community consisted of 20.000 people. At present there are 18.000 thousand Armenians living there. Since 1932 the community has been ruled according to the Constitution (or National Constitution). The community’s supreme power is the national central administration which elects its leader once every four years. The elections of national central administration are followed by the elections of district councils. The community has a spiritual leader, Archbishop Avag Asaturyan.
In 1968, after the party of “Baas” came to power, a serious blow was stricken to the preservation of Armenians in Iraq which was followed by nationalization of Armenian national colleges in 1972. Before that only in Baghdad there were 1600 Armenian pupils. It took much effort to make the teaching of the Armenian language and religion in already state based schools. After 2003 the Armenians tried to restore the system of national collages. As a result was opened the only Baghdad based Armenian national collage with 150 pupils only in preparatory classes.
There are 5 national unions in Baghdad: Baghdad’s Union of Youth, Armenian General Benevolent Union, Benevolent Sports Club in Iraq, HOMENETMEN and Union of the Armenian Women in Iraqi.
In the other communities of Iraq there are also sports and cultural unions, which are generally ruled under the umbrella of the church. There are suchlike unions in Basra, Mosul, Zakho, Kirkuk, Erbil, Dohuk.
Since 2003, according to P. Hakobyan, the number of Armenians emigrated from Iraq hasn’t exceeded the number of 3000. Not more then 1000 Iraqi Armenians (the probable number is 750) were settled in Armenia. There is a considerable number (1000-1500) of Iraqi Armenians in Syria (Aleppo, Damascus). In addition to emigration there are also internal migrations in Iraq. The Armenians move to the north of Iraq, Kurdistan, where the social-economic and political situation is quite stable. It is noteworthy that Kurds encourage the Armenians’ inhabitation among them.
Today there are 4 churches (the oldest one was built in 1638) and five unions in Baghdad. There are two churches in Mosul, one of which was built in 1857, and the next one was newly built when it was destroyed and plundered before its anointment and opening. There is a church in Basra built in 1736 and two unions. Avzrouk (although Kurdish) is a village completely inhabited by Armenians and has a church and a union. In Zakho there is only one church.
The Armenian community in Iraq has always been in good relations with the government, beginning from the royal period to the one of Saddam Hussein and up till now. The Armenians have not been involved in politics up till now in spite of the fact that “Baas” party had Armenian members.
While framing the last Iraqi constitution a decision was made also to take into consideration the interests of national minorities. With that purpose in the mind was formed the committee of minorities with the participation of Armenian, Assyrian, Chaldean, Turkmen as well as Shabak and Feyli (Shia Kurds) representatives. It is noteworthy that instead of the fact that the number of Armenians in Iraq is very little, the secretary of the Christian community’s council is the senior leader of the Armenian eparchy Archbishop Asaturyan.
The Armenian community is in quite good relations with both Sunni and Shia communities and their leaders. The leader of the Armenian eparchy had meetings both with Muktada As-Sadr and Ali Sistani, as well as with Sunni leaders.
The Armenians are the hostages of the present situation in Iraq like the other inhabitants. Kidnappings, aiming at extorting money, have made the situation in the country tense. Since 2003 28 Armenians have been kidnapped, one of which was returned dead, there is no information about the other two and the other ones were released by ransom. 28 people were killed as a result of the war.
The speaker pointed out that the Iraqi Armenians don’t get any financial support from Diaspora but for unique cases, and there aren’t any expectations from Armenia, taking into consideration economic hardship.
Today there are scarcely any Armenian publications in Iraq but for “Kantegk” periodical published by the Primacy. In the past (till 1968) was published “Goiamart” weekly. There are not any intellectuals living in Iraq.
Up-to-date Armenian community of Iraq undergoes serious internal changes. New Armenian communities are being formed, especially in the north where Kurds are inhabited. Many Armenians today settled themselves in Ain Kava Christian settlement which is situated not far from Erbil. More then 200-350 Armenians, all provided with work, live there. The Christian Al-Koush town, situated near Mosul, is also being inhabited by Armenians.
For about 20 families live in the village of Havrez. Many people also intend to live there. Unfortunately the Armenians living in Avzrouk speak Kurdish and are more close to Kurds by their lifestyle and culture.
Today the Armenian community in Iraq faces the problem of self-preservation. The Armenians leave the country mainly because of the lack of security. In fact, everybody would leave if they had a real prospective of finding job abroad. The rich were the first to leave Iraq becoming a target for criminal groups.
P. Hakobyan pointed out that in spite of present difficulties, they want the Armenian community in Iraq continue its national self-preservation and not to be decomposed.
And at last Mr. Hakobyan refuted the news spread by the Armenian mass media according to which two Armenian women had been killed in Iraq. In fact, they were just Christians and not Armenians.
