Iraqi Arab in Sweden


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The generosity of Sweden resulted in an influx of Iraqis applying to live there. Sweden takes in more than half of the Iraqi asylum seekers wanting to live in Europe. In 2006, Sweden allowed more protection to Iraqis than all the other EU countries put together.

The number of Iraqi Arab refugees in Sweden has more than doubled since 2002. A smaller number came in the 1980s because of the Iran-Iraq war. Iraqi Christians fled to Sweden because of persecution in Iraq since 2003. Sweden’s generous open door policy has allowed a high number of Iraqis and other Muslim people to enter.

Iraqis are the second biggest minority peoples group living in Sweden after the Swedish Finns. They live mainly in Stockholm, Malmo and Sodertalje. They speak Iraqi Arabic, Kurdish, Swedish, Neo Aramaic, Mandaic and Turkmen.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Because of so many of them coming to live in Sweden they are having to live in poor conditions. Many of the new Iraqi migrants are having to live in very crowded apartments, sometimes with as many as fifteen people. Most live in segregated ethnically based ghettos in urban areas. That does not give them the chance to learn Swedish ways or language.

In general, the first Iraqis who came to Sweden had more education and money. Newer immigrants are not as fortunate. They must build their lives from a lower point.


What Are Their Beliefs?

They are mainly Muslims, some Sunni, some Shia. Others follow Syriac Christianity. They have one of the largest Mandaean people groups in the world and they are followers of Mandaeism, an ancient Gnostic religion.


What Are Their Needs?

Iraqi Arabs who have arrived in Sweden in recent years are still trying to master the local language and get high paying jobs. They often need job training and language skills.


Prayer Points

Pray for workers to go to the Iraqi Arab people, and for their hearts to be ready to receive their Savior.
Pray for families of believers loving and serving others to grow reproducing churches.
Pray for a chain reaction of families reaching families that results in thousands of new believers who share their faith with others.
Pray for grace and truth expanding into their entire society as all believers learn to love others.


Scripture Prayers for the Arab, Iraqi in Sweden.


References

https://www.hofstra.edu/academics/colleges/hclas/anthro/hpia/hpia-skiold.html
en. wikipedia.org/wiki/Swedish_Iraqis
https://www.dw.com/en/years-after-finding-refuge-iraqis-struggle-in-malm%C3%B6/a-18794886
https://www.quora.com/How-did-Iraqis-integrate-in-Sweden
https://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/16/world/europe/16sweden.html
https://youtube.com/watch?v=EkuTBnQ90yE
https://news.cgtn.com/news/7a63444f7a6b7a6333566d54/index.html
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3474557/Number-Iraqi-migrants-applying-return-home-Sweden-DOUBLES-decide-face-life-Europe.html
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/iraqi-refugees-our-problem-or-swedens/
https://www.thelocal.se/20070412/6977
https://www.thelocal.se/20061222/5883


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 99,000
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 2
PeopleID3 12247
ROP3 Code 104056
Country Sweden
Region Europe, Western
Continent Europe
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Country Sweden
Region Europe, Western
Continent Europe
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.30 %)
1.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
96.50 %
Non-Religious
0.50 %
Other / Small
2.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Arabic, Mesopotamian (99,000 speakers)
Language Code acm   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Arabic, Mesopotamian (99,000 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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