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Iraqi Armenians comprise a small ethnic minority in Iraq, with most living in the capital city of Baghdad.[1] It is estimated that there are about 20,000 Armenians living in the entire country with communities in Baghdad, Mosul, Basra, Kirkuk and Dohuk.[2][3] 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.[4] Iraqi Armenians follow the Armenian Apostolic Church (also known as Armenian Orthodox) and the Armenian Catholic Church.
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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.[5]
Iraq war
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. [6]
Deaths in War
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.[7] A further 130 from the town had died fighting in the Iraqi Army during the Iran-Iraq War.
2003 Invasion of Iraq
There has been concern that the decision of Armenia to send troops to support the U.S. War in Iraq will prompt attacks against Iraq's Armenian population[8], and the Armenian winner of the Miss Iraq competition has gone into hiding out of fear of being targeted by Islamic militants.[9]
In October, 2007, two Iraqi Armenian women were killed by the Australian private security contractors, Unity Resources Group, in Almasbah district in Baghdad. [10] [11]
Notable Armenian-Iraqis
- Seta Hagobian, singer
- Yacoub Sarkis, scholar
- Silva Shahakian – beauty contestant
- Vartan Malakian – artist and father of Daron Malakian
- Shant Gharabedian and Artin Haroutounian – Members of Unknown to No One.
- Shant Kenderian, writer
- Meissoon Azzaria, poet and social activist[12]
- Jirair Hovnanian, builder and businessman
- Ara Darzi, Baron Darzi of Denham, surgeon
- Calouste Gulbenkian, businessman and philanthropist
- Andy Serkis, actor and director
Gallery
 Saint Vartan Armenian Apostolic Church in Avzrog, Dahuk Governorate, Iraq. |
 Armenian children in Baghdad, 1918. |
References
- ^ Radio Free Europe Article
- ^ There are 20,000 Armenians living in Iraq according to Armeniandiaspora.com
- ^ Radio Free Europe
- ^ BBC NEWS | Middle East | Crushing Iraq's human mosaic
- ^ Scholastic News Article
- ^ Armenian News - PanARMENIAN.Net | Armenian News Agency - 28 Armenians died during 4 years in Iraq
- ^ Fisk, Robert. The Great War for Civilisation: The Conquest of the Middle East. London: Alfred A. Knopf, 2006. pp. 685-686
- ^ Eurasia.net Article
- ^ USAToday.com Article
- ^ 2 Killed in Shooting Mourned Far Beyond Iraq - New York Times
- ^ Security firms under attack after women are shot dead - Times Online
- ^ Tadamon! » Poets against war! Report back and links
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