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Index / Religions
  Iraq /
Religions
Although a country of religious diversity, it is Islam that dominates all in Iraq. With Shi'is as the majority, Sunnis as a great minority that has been the dominating elite for the last decades, there are strong divisions between the two groups. The Shi'is trie to cut themselves loose from Baghdad after the Gulf War of 1991, then being heavily punished by Saddam until the war of 2003. Shi'is now have a strong position in society.
There are other religious groups in Iraq, where Christians of various sects make up about 3%. Small, but important in the understanding of history of religions, are the Yazidis with about 500,000 members, and Mandeans with about 30,000 adherents. There are also about 2,500 Jews living in Baghdad.
Reports tell that since the US/British-Iraq War started in 2003, a great number of Mandeans have fled Iraq.
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By: Tore Kjeilen
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