Heiloo

Iraqi Armenians comprise a small ethnic minority in Iraq, with most living in the capital city of Baghdad. It is estimated that there are about 20,000 Armenians living in the entire country with communities in Baghdad, Mosul, Basra, Kirkuk and Dohuk.

History

Most of the Armenians originally came from Iran and first settled in the southern part of Iraq. While they have been moving into Iraq for several centuries, the largest movement of Armenian people came during the early twentieth century as they fled the persecution of the Armenian Genocide.

Armenians and the Political situation

After the launch of second Iraqi campaign, more than 3,000 Armenians left the country, head of National Management of Armenians in Iraq Paruyr Hakopian stated. “Four years have passed since the launch of military campaign in Iraq by Coalition forces. And I confirm with certainty that the number of Armenians who have immigrated abroad does not exceed this mark,” he noted. Mr. Hakopian said four years ago there were 18,000 Armenians in Iraq and now only 15,000 of them live in the country. Generally during the past 4 years 1,500 Armenians immigrated to Syria, about 1,000 arrived in Armenia and about 500 departed for Jordan,” he stressed.

During the Persian Gulf War, of the 1,500 Armenians living with the predominant Kurd population in the northern town of Zakho, three soldiers serving in Saddam Hussein's military were killed in coalition air strikes in Kuwait, Basra, and Mosul, respectively. A count of four Armenian babies were also among the several hundred reported dead in fighting near the Turkish border during the Gulf War. A further 130 from the town had died fighting in the Iraqi Army during the Iran–Iraq War.

2003 Invasion of Iraq

The situation of the Armenians has considerably worsened in Iraq. Armenians have been subject to killings and kidnappings for ransom. Many Armenians have immigrated to other Middle Esatern countries (most notably Syria and Lebanon), to Europe, US, Canada and Australia. Armenian churches have also been target of bombings by paramilitary groups.

In October, 2007, two Iraqi Armenian women were killed by the Australian private security contractors, Unity Resources Group, in Almasbah district in Baghdad.

The Armenian winner of the Miss Iraq competition has gone into hiding out of fear of being targeted by Islamic militants.

Deployment of Armenian Troops

Armenia has decided to take part in the efforts of the US-led Coalition by sending 46 troops including 30 truck drivers, 10 bomb detonation experts, three doctors and three officers. They served the under Polish command in the Shiite city of Karbala and the nearby town of al-Hila. The extent of Armenian participation is far less than the 850 troups sent by neighbouring Georgia or the 150 commited by Azerbaijan.

But the decision is more precarious as Armenians have an active comunity in Iraq, something that the Georgians and the Azerbaijanis don't. There has been valid concern that the decision of Armenia to send troops to support the U.S. War in Iraq may prompt attacks against Iraq's Armenian population.

Religion

Iraqi Armenians follow the Armenian Apostolic Church (also known as Armenian Orthodox) and the Armenian Catholic Church.

St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Apostolic Church (at Younis al Sabaawi Square, Baghdad) is the main church for the Iraqi-Armenians. There is also the Saint Vartan Armenian Apostolic Church in Dohuk, northern Iraq.

The Armenian Catholic Archbishopric Church works in Baghdad.

So does the Armenian Evangelical Church of Baghdad (at Sahat al-Tahreer in Hay al-Wahda).

Some Armenian churches were also targets of bombing and some Armenians have died as a result of sectarian fighting in Iraq.

Armenians in Avzrog

Saint Vartan Armenian Apostolic Church in Avzrog, Dahuk Governorate, Iraq.

A small minority of Armenians live in Avzrog (أفزروك in Arabic,Avzarok in Kurdish), a village in the Iraqi province of Dohuk. The village of Avzrog is split into two areas: one populated by Armenians and the other by Assyrians. The name of the village comes from the Kurdish language; av - water and zrog - yellow.

It was built for the first time in 1932 when the Armenians of Zakho and its suburbs decided to establish the village and settle in it. The village was subject of destruction in 1975. The Armenian inhabitants of Avzrog don't speak Armenian. They use the Kurdish language. Despite this, Armenians in Avzrog maintain their Armenian social identity like folklore and names. Avzrog has a total population of about 300 people.

Armenians in Iraqi Culture

The two founding members of the Western-style pop group Unknown to No One, Art Haroutunian and Shant Garabedian, are of Armenian heritage. During the rule of Saddam Hussein the band could only have its music aired once they sang a song celebrating the dictator's birthday. Unknown to No One has been given a large amount of publicity in the post-Saddam era.

See Also

• List of Notable Armenian-Iraqis

Gallery

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  Armenian children in Baghdad, 1918.