Iraqi Armenians

{{Short description|Ethnic group of Iraq}} {{Infobox ethnic group | group = Iraqi Armenians العراقيين الأرمن իրաքահայեր | image = [[File:Armenia Iraq Locator.svg|280px]] | caption = {{Color box|#3c9d3c|border=darkgray}} [[Armenia]] {{Color box|#e3801c|border=darkgray}} [[Iraq]] | population = 10,000 (2011);<ref>[https://news.am/eng/news/83971.html Armenia News.am website] About 10,000 Armenians live in Iraq</ref> about 20,000 prior to the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]] | popplace = Cities: [[Baghdad]], [[Mosul]], [[Basra]], [[Kirkuk]], [[Baqubah]], [[Dohuk, Iraq|Dohuk]] and [[Zakho]] Villages: [[Avzrog]], Havresk and Ishkender<ref name="hetq.am">{{cite web|url=http://hetq.am/eng/news/56918/armenians-of-iraqi-kurdistantaking-up-arms-against-the-ongoing-isil-threat.html|title=Armenians of Iraqi Kurdistan - Taking Up Arms Against the Ongoing ISIL Threat - Hetq - News, Articles, Investigations|access-date=24 September 2017}}</ref> | languages = [[Western Armenian|Western]] [[Armenian language|Armenian]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.unhcr.org/en-us/news/latest/2008/10/4909e1882/iraqi-armenian-teen-shows-way-new-life.html | title=United Nations UNHCR website; ''An Iraqi Armenian teen shows the way to a new life'' }}</ref> [[Mesopotamian Arabic]] | rels = [[Christianity]] (mostly [[Armenian Apostolic]], some [[Armenian Catholic Church|Armenian Catholics]] and pockets of [[Armenian Evangelical|Evangelical]] and [[Armenian Brotherhood Church|Brethren]] Protestants) }} {{Armenians}} '''Iraqi Armenians''' ({{langx|ar|أرمنيون عراقيون}} ''’Armanion Iraqion''; [[Armenian language|Armenian]]: իրաքահայեր ''irakahayer'') are [[Iraqis|Iraqi]] citizens and residents of [[Armenians|Armenian]] ethnicity. Many Armenians settled in Iraq after fleeing the 1915 [[Armenian genocide]]. It is estimated that there are 10,000–20,000 Armenians living in Iraq, with communities in [[Baghdad]], [[Mosul]], [[Basra]], [[Kirkuk]],<ref>{{cite web|last=Ashjian|first=Ara|date=12 August 2009|title=Armenian Issues: From the Armenian Church of Iraq- A visit to the Armenian Community of Kirkuk|url=http://ara-ashjian.blogspot.com/2009/08/from-armenian-church-of-iraq.html|access-date=24 September 2017}}</ref> [[Baqubah]], [[Dohuk, Iraq|Dohuk]], [[Zakho]] and [[Avzrog]].<ref>"[https://www.rferl.org/a/1053693.html Iraq: Tiny Ethnic-Armenian Community Survived Hussein, Making It In Postwar Times]." ''[[RFE/RL]]. July 6, 2004.''</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Fisher|first=William B.|title=The Middle East: A Physical, Social and Regional Geography|year=1978|location=London|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-0-416-71520-0|page=363}}</ref>

==History== [[File:Baghdad-ArmenianChildren1918.jpg|upright|thumb|left|Armenian children in [[Baghdad]], 1918]] The history of [[Armenians]] in [[Iraq]] is documented since late [[Neo-Babylonian Empire|Babylonian]] times. However, the general roots of the contemporary Armenian community in Iraq can be largely traced to [[Abbas I of Persia|Shah Abbas]]'s forced relocation of the Armenians to [[Iran]] in 1604, some of whom subsequently moved on to settle in Iraq.<ref name="Hovannisian">Dekmejian, R. Hrair (1997). "The Armenian Diaspora" in ''The Armenian People from Ancient to Modern Times, Volume II: Foreign Dominion to Statehood: The Fifteenth Century to the Twentieth Century'', ed. [[Richard G. Hovannisian]]. New York: St. Martin's Press, p. 427.</ref> A further 25,000 Armenians arrived in Iraq during the early twentieth century as they fled the persecution of the [[Armenian genocide]].<ref name=Hovannisian /><ref>{{cite news| url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6293230.stm | work=BBC News | title=Crushing Iraq's human mosaic | date=2007-07-13 | access-date=2010-04-25}}</ref> They established schools, athletic and cultural clubs, and political and religious institutions in urban centers across the breadth of Iraq.<ref>Hovannisian, Richard G. "[https://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/4325183?uid=3739560&uid=2&uid=4&uid=3739256&sid=21104261783747 The Ebb and Flow of the Armenian Minority in the Arab Middle East]," ''[[Middle East Journal]]'' 28 (Winter, 1974), p. 28.</ref>

During the 1980s, the Armenian community flourished as a result of President [[Saddam Hussein]]'s modernization efforts, and good treatment of Armenians as it continued to rebuild its cultural institutions and even consecrated an imposing cathedral in [[Baghdad]].<ref name=Hovannisian /> Saddam retained many Armenians among his personal entourage: his nanny was Iraqi-Armenian, along with one of his body guards, his jeweler, tailor, and housestaff.<ref>[[Andrew Cockburn|Cockburn, Andrew]] and [[Patrick Cockburn]]. ''Saddam Hussein: An American Obsession''. London: Verso, 2002, pp. 5, 160.</ref>

==Armenians and the political situation== After the launch of the 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.<ref>[http://www.panarmenian.net/news/eng/?nid=21581 28 Armenians died during 4 years in Iraq]. ''PanArmenian.net''. March 24, 2007.</ref>

Many Armenians served in the military during Iraq's eight-year [[Iran–Iraq War|war with Iran]] and the [[Gulf War|Persian Gulf War]]. More than 130 from [[Zakho]] (a town with an Armenian population 1,500-strong) were killed in the conflict with Iran while three others, also from Zakho, were killed in coalition air strikes in [[Kuwait]], [[Basra]], and [[Mosul]]. Civilian casualties in the aftermath of the Persian Gulf War, following the rebellion by the [[Kurds]], included four Armenian babies who died in fighting near the [[Turkey|Turkish]] border.<ref>[[Robert Fisk|Fisk, Robert]]. ''[[The Great War for Civilisation: The Conquest of the Middle East]]''. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2006, pp. 685–86.</ref>

===2003 invasion of Iraq=== With the invasion of Iraq, the situation for Iraqi Armenians, just like the rest of Iraqis have been subject to killings and kidnappings for ransom. Many Armenians have immigrated to, Europe, the US, Canada, and Australia.

In October 2007, two Armenian women in Iraq were killed by the [[Australia]]n private security contractors, [[Unity Resources Group]], in Almasbah district in Baghdad.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/11/world/middleeast/11iraq.html?em&ex=1192248000&en=beb437be7ceabee0&ei=5087%0A | work=The New York Times | title=2 Killed in Shooting Mourned Far Beyond Iraq | first=Andrew E. | last=Kramer | date=2007-10-11 | access-date=2010-04-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/iraq/article2624283.ece | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080706165234/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/iraq/article2624283.ece | url-status=dead | archive-date=July 6, 2008 | work=The Times | location=London | title=Security firms under attack after women are shot dead | date=2007-10-10 | access-date=2010-04-25 | first=Deborah | last=Haynes}}</ref>

The Armenian winner of the Miss Iraq competition went into hiding out of fear of being targeted by [[Islamic militants]].<ref>"[https://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2006-04-12-missiraq_x.htm Iraq's beauty queen fears for life after threats to pageant]." ''[[USA Today]]''. April 12, 2006.</ref>

===Deployment of Armenian troops=== Armenia took part in the efforts of the US-led Coalition by sending a group of 46 non-military personnel, including 30 truck drivers, 10 bomb detonation experts, three doctors and three officers. They served under the Polish command in the city of [[Karbala]] and the nearby town of [[Al Hillah|Hillah]].

In October 2008, Armenia ended its modest presence in Iraq, citing improved security and the ongoing withdrawal of a much larger Polish army contingent that has supervised Armenian troops deployed in the country.<ref>"[http://www.asbarez.com/index.html?showarticle=35868_10/16/2008_1 Armenia Ends Iraq Mission] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140310100813/http://www.asbarez.com/index.html?showarticle=35868_10%2F16%2F2008_1 |date=March 10, 2014 }}." ''[[Asbarez]]''. October 16, 2008.</ref>

==Religion== {{Rquote|right|The Iraqi Armenian community, fairly wealthy and important, is also of great age. In fact the Armenian Church in [[Baghdad]] is so old that it is regarded as sacred by Muslims, who worship there periodically.<ref>{{cite book|last=Spencer|first=William|title=Iraq: Old Land, New Nation in Conflict|year=2000|location=Brookfield, CT|publisher=Twenty-First Century Books|isbn=978-0-7613-1356-4|page=[https://archive.org/details/iraqoldlandnewna00spen/page/38 38]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/iraqoldlandnewna00spen/page/38}}</ref>}} [[File:كنيسة الآرمن ببغداد.jpg|left|thumb|The interior of Armenian Church in Baghdad.]] Armenians in Iraq are mostly members of the [[Armenian Apostolic Church]] (also known as Armenian Orthodox) or [[Armenian Catholic Church]].

St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Apostolic Church (at Younis al Sabaawi Square, Baghdad) is the main church for the Armenians of Iraq. There is also the Saint Vartan Armenian Apostolic Church in Dohuk, northern Iraq. [[Avak Asadourian|Avak Archbishop Asadourian]] is the Primate of the Armenian Apostolic Diocese in Iraq since April 1980.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.armenianchurch.org/index.jsp?sid=1&id=4058&pid=85&lng=en|title=The Armenian Church - Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin|website=www.armenianchurch.org|access-date=2017-09-04|archive-date=2015-03-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150305124400/http://www.armenianchurch.org/index.jsp?sid=1&id=4058&pid=85&lng=en|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The Armenian Catholic Archbishopric Church maintains a presence in Baghdad, as does the Armenian Evangelical Church of Baghdad.

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

==Contributions to Iraqi culture== [[File:Armenian Church Sourp Asdvadzadzin in Baghdad.jpg|thumb|Sourp Asdvadzadzin Church in [[Baghdad]].]] The two founding members of the Western-style pop group [[Unknown to No One]], Art Haroutunian and Shant Garabedian, are of Armenian heritage. During Saddam's reign the band could only have its music aired once they sang a song celebrating the Presidents's birthday. Unknown to No One has been given a large amount of publicity in the post-Saddam era.<ref>Nawa, Fariba. "[http://teacher.scholastic.com/scholasticnews/indepth/iraq/life_today/index.asp?article=band Iraq's Boy Band Dreams Big]." Scholastic News.</ref>

The famous singer [[Seta Hagopian]] is also of Armenian descent.

==In the Kurdistan Region== The main city of Armenians, and the seat of the Armenian church, is [[Zakho]].

In 1915, some [[Kurds]] and tribes participated in, or supported the [[Armenian genocide]] along with the [[Ottoman Army]]. Other Kurds opposed the genocide. The Armenian populations in [[Iraqi Kurdistan]] have been in the region since the 1920s, after they were displaced in the [[Armenian genocide]]. Their numbers have increased considerably with waves of new immigration coming from Baghdad and other Iraqi regions after the toppling of Saddam. Armenians attribute their leaving towards the north to safety concerns. A Kurdish Government official representing the Armenian community reported to Araratnews in 2011 that Iraqi Kurdistan had 3,600–3,800 Armenians- but this number is likely much higher now due to population displacements due to [[ISIS]] and Kurdish annexations of disputed territory. The Armenians of Iraqi Kurdistan have two schools (in Erbil and Dohuk) and five churches (in Dohuk, Erbil, Avzrog, Havresk, Zakho).<ref name="hetq.am"/><ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=http://araratnews.eu/nuce.php?aid=480|title=MED - Middle East Diplomatic|first=MED|last=Diplomatic|website=araratnews.eu|access-date=24 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007142639/http://araratnews.eu/nuce.php?aid=480|archive-date=7 October 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The Armenians in [[Iraqi Kurdistan]] have one reserved minority seat in the [[Iraqi Kurdistan Parliament|parliament of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq]].

===Armenian villages===

====Avzrog==== A notable Armenian village exists in [[Avzrog]], a village in the Iraqi province of [[Dohuk Province|Dohuk]]. There are in fact two Avzrogs: one populated by [[Armenians]], and the other by [[Assyrian people|Assyrians]]. Assyrians and Armenians maintain good relations as both were persecuted by Turks and Kurds in the Ottoman Empire. The name of the village comes from the Kurdish language: ''{{Transliteration|ku|av}}'' (water) and ''{{Transliteration|ku|zrog}}'' (yellow). The Armenian one is called Avzrog Miri, while the Assyrian is called Avzrog Shno.

The village 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 destroyed in 1975 by Saddam Hussein and resettled with Arabs. In 1996, the town was repopulated with Armenians and the Arab tribes who settled in the village were driven out, and later on the local St Vartans church was reconsecrated and built in 2001. Additionally, although the villagers are Armenian, they do not speak [[Armenian language|Armenian]] but [[Kurdish language|Kurdish]]. Armenians in Avzrog maintain their Armenian social identity like folklore, religion and names nevertheless. Avzrog has a total population of about 350 people.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kurdisharmenian.blogspot.com/2008/10/avzrok-armenian-village-in-southern.html|title=Kurdistan and Hayastan - Hand in Hand: Avzrok - Armenian village in southern Kurdistan|first=Kurdistan And|last=Hayastan|date=29 October 2008|access-date=24 September 2017}}</ref><ref name="hetq.am"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Avzarook Miri (Armenian) |url=http://www.ishtartv.com/en/viewarticle,36264.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170629224742/http://www.ishtartv.com/en/viewarticle,36264.html |archive-date=29 June 2017 |access-date=1 January 2025 |website=www.ishtartv.com}}</ref>

The Armenian church of Avzrog is dedicated to [[Vardan Mamikonian|Sourp Vartan]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mesopotamiaheritage.org/en/monuments/leglise-armenienne-apostolique-sourp-vartan-de-avzrok/|website=mesopotamiaheritage.org|title=The Armenian Sourp Vartan Church in Avzrok|date=2018|access-date=November 30, 2020}}</ref>

====Havresk==== Havresk is an Armenian village founded in 1928 by Armenians fleeing Turkey in the [[Armenian genocide]]. It was a large and prosperous village during the 1950s, having an [[Artesian aquifer]], library, church, and school. However, during the [[Al-Anfal Campaign]] it was destroyed and its Armenian residents forcibly evicted.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ishtartv.com/en/viewarticle,36343.html|title=Hawresk|website=www.ishtartv.com|access-date=24 September 2017}}</ref> It was rebuilt in 2005, however, and now has a population of 100 families. The village has 115 houses, a greenhouse, a school, and a church that was recently built in 2012. The town's mayor (mukhtar) is Murad Vardanian.<ref name="auto"/> The village is located roughly 5 miles southeast of Avzrog in the Plain south of [[Zakho]].<ref>coordinates of the village- 36.897605, 42.711520</ref>

The Armenian church of Havresk is dedicated to Sourp Sarkis.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mesopotamiaheritage.org/en/monuments/leglise-armenienne-apostolique-sourp-sarkis-de-havresk/|website=mesopotamiaheritage.org|title=The Armenian Apostolic Church Sourp Sarkis in Havresk|date=2018|access-date=November 30, 2020}}</ref>

====Aghajanian==== A small Armenian populated village of 20 houses was built in the [[Nineveh Plains]] of Iraq between the cities of [[Karemlash]] to the south and [[Bakhdida]] in the north. The village was created in order to accommodate Armenian refugees from [[Baghdad]] and other areas in [[Iraq]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Aghajanian |url=http://www.ishtartv.com/en/viewarticle,36447.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191220210431/https://www.ishtartv.com/en/viewarticle,36447.html |archive-date=20 December 2019 |access-date=1 January 2025 |website=www.ishtartv.com}}</ref> The village is named after the financier and developer of the village, the [[Assyrian people|Assyrian]] politician and businessman [[Sarkis Aghajan Mamendo]]. ==See also== {{Portal|Armenia|Iraq}} *[[Armenia–Iraq relations]] *[[Armenian diaspora]] *[[Armenians in the Middle East]] *[[List of Iraqi Armenians]] *[[Religion in Iraq]] *[[Christianity in Iraq]]

==References== {{reflist|2}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Armenians In Iraq}} [[Category:Armenian diaspora by country|Iraq]] [[Category:Armenian diaspora in Asia|Iraq]] [[Category:Iraqi people of Armenian descent|+]] [[Category:Ethnic groups in Iraq]]