Iraqi Arab in Italy


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

Arabs from the Arabian Peninsula are considered to be the original Arabs. Their culture was developed by tribes of nomads and villagers who lived in the Arabian Desert for many centuries. It was from there that Arab migrations began, eventually leading to the expansion of the Arab world into Iraq and beyond. Iraqi Arabs are descended from a cluster of people groups called the Levant Arabs, who originally settled all over the Arabian Peninsula and later migrated to North Africa. Their migration has spread from Israel to Kuwait and as far east as Iran. "Levant" is a broad term that includes several groups of Arabs: the Iraqi, Jordanian, Palestinian, Arabic Jewish, Chaldean, and Syrian Arabs. Modern day Iraq encompasses the home of the ancient Sumerian, Assyrian and Babylonian empires. Iraq was occupied by Britain during World War I and gained its independence in 1931.


Where Are they Located?

Most Iraqi Arabs live in Iraq, but there are a number of them who have had to flee for their lives because of violence and mayhem that happened after Saddam Hussein was driven from power in 2003. As Iraq continues to be unstable, more Iraqi refugees continue to flow into Europe, usually starting in southern countries like Greece, Italy, and Spain. Because these countries have weaker economies than countries like England and Germany, the immigrants try to find their way to other places where they can find jobs and re-build their lives.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Iraqi Arabs in Italy today reside mostly in the major cities such as Rome, Milan and Naples. The urban environment of city life, as well as the constant exposure to Western culture, has caused disruption in the traditionally close family and tribal ties that have been maintained in Iraq. Despite hopes of economic stability in Europe, many of the Iraqi Arabs have found it difficult to locate jobs with adequate pay. In addition, they often face discrimination and even threat of expulsion from Italy, due to ethnicity and legal status. Even those who do not face such challenges are confronted with the radically different cultures of European peoples, and assimilation is by no means easy.


Iraq is presently in turmoil. This offers both obstacles and opportunities for the Iraqi Arabs to learn more fully of who Jesus truly is, but that will require believers to obey the Lord faithfully.
What Are Their Beliefs?

Iraqi Arabs can be either Sunni or Shia Muslim. There is much hostility between these two branches of Islam in Iraq, especially these religious labels are commonly used as rallying points for those who wish to take political control by force. Though there was contact with traditional Christians in Iraq, most of those were not bold enough to share their faith.


What Are Their Needs?

Iraqis in Italy are in desperate need of jobs, as well as passage to countries that have them. They need to find the opportunity to re-build their lives in Italy and other European countries.


Prayer Points

Pray for a chain reaction of families in Italy reaching Iraqi Arab families resulting in thousands of new believers who help establish a movement to Christ among the Arabs in Europe. Pray for grace and truth expanding into the entire Iraqi Arab society as all believers learn to love others. Pray that churches and believers will bless their entire people group in such a way that God's love will change Iraqi Arabs like yeast changes dough.


Scripture Prayers for the Arab, Iraqi in Italy.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Arab, Iraqi
People Name in Country Arab, Iraqi
Natural Name Iraqi Arab
Pronunciation ee-RAH-kee AE-rub
Alternate Names Arab, Mesopotamian Speakers; Arab-Mesopotamian; Iraqi Arab; Iraqi Arabs; Mesopotamian Spoken; North Iraqi Arab
Population this Country 2,100
Population all Countries 21,994,000
Total Countries 24
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 12247
ROP3 Code 104056
Country Italy
Region Europe, Western
Continent Europe
10/40 Window No
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Country Italy
Region Europe, Western
Continent Europe
10/40 Window No
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.30 %)
2.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
95.80 %
Non-Religious
0.20 %
Other / Small
2.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Arabic, Mesopotamian (2,100 speakers)
Language Code acm   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Arabic, Mesopotamian (2,100 speakers)
Language Code acm   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Arabic, Mesopotamian
Photo Source Christiaan Briggs - Wikimedia  Creative Commons 
Map Source Bethany World Prayer Center  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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