Iraqis in Lebanon

Infobox Ethnic group
group = Iraqi Lebanese

Ayad Allawi

poptime = 100,000cite web | url =http://www.aina.org/news/2007049133807.htm | title =Iraqis In Lebanon | accessdate =2007-08-15 | publisher =aina.org]
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popplace = Beirut, Roumieh, Baalbeck, Beqaa, Nabatiyeh, Baabda, Aley, Matn, Tyre, Sidon, Hermel, Zahle, Bint Jbeil, Chouf, Jbeil, Tripoli, Koura
langs = Arabic, English
rels = Predominantly Muslim (both Sunni and Shia) and Christian (mostly Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic), and minorities who follow Judaism as well as some atheists
related = Other Iraqi peopleThe Iraqis in Lebanon are Lebanese citizens of Iraqi ancestry or more recently Iraqi immigrants seeking refuge in Lebanon. The population of Iraqis are suggested to have increased up to 40,000 according to the UNHCR,cite web | url =http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/01/22/africa/ME-GEN-Jordan-Iraqi-Refugees.php | title =Iraqi Refugee Problem | accessdate =2007-08-15 | publisher =iht.com] primarily due to the US led invasion of Iraq. However security officials of the Lebanese Ministry of Internal Affairs say they believe the number is actually closer to 100,000.cite web | url =http://www.aina.org/news/2007049133807.htm | title =Iraqis In Lebanon | accessdate =2007-08-15 | publisher =aina.org]

History

Iraqis have been present in Lebanon throughout the years, as Beirut was seen as the Paris of the Middle East, many young Iraqi workers emigrated there to further their careers. Living under Saddam Husseins regime also resulted in many Iraqis fleeing abroad, as well as the Iran–Iraq War and the economic sanctions imposed on Iraq by the US and the United Nations, in which was very difficult to live through as even people with academic professions received low wages.

Recent migration

The recent influx of Iraqi refugees, that Lebanon has experienced is due to the ongoing Iraq war. Most Iraqis arriving in Lebanon are from Baghdad, and they travelled to Lebanon via Syria.cite web | url =http://216.239.59.104/search?q=cache:clCb_BBNmeEJ:www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/home/opendoc.pdf%3Ftbl%3DSUBSITES%26id%3D4762690f2+%22iraqi+population+in%22&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=uk | title =Iraqi Population Survey in Lebanon | accessdate =2007-08-19 | publisher =unhcr.org] Between 15 and 30 percent of Iraq's refugees are believed to be Christians. [ [http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/SJHG-75L8AQ?OpenDocument Refugee crisis increases] ] Most of the recent migrants have illegal status and do not sign up for state citizenship officially because of the fear of deportation and without any documents they cannot be permitted to work. Leaving them in absolute poverty and continuous struggle in pursuing a decent living. The Iraqis living in difficult and poor conditions in the suburbs of Beirut, are waiting for the UNHCR to transfer them to a European country.cite web | url =http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article6777.shtml | title =Invisible lives: Iraqis in Lebanon | accessdate =2007-08-15 | publisher =electronicintifada.net] Another issue facing Iraqis are those of Palestinian origin who have entered Lebanon illegally and have not registered with the PLO representative office in Lebanon, thus losing access to the UNRWA education and health services.

Profile

Amongst the adult population, 44 percent are single while 52 percent are married, in which a higher proprotion of adult women are married whereas the men are single.

Attendace rates in school amongst youths of the ages six to seventeen, range at around 58%. In which female enrollment is much higher at 63.7 percent, in comparison with 54.3 percent being males.

Religious and ethnic affiliation

A survey recently released information that Muslim Shia are by far the majority of Iraqis at 51 percent, followed by Chaldean Catholics which stand at 19 percent, while Sunni Muslims only amount to 12 percent of the population.

Prominent Iraqi Lebanese people

* Muqtada al-Sadr, Iraqi Shi'a cleric of Lebanese ancestry [ [http://www.bintjbeil.com/A/araa/2004/en/0601_sbazzi.html Samer Bazzi - The Lebanese Armageddon in the New Iraq ] ]
* Ismail as-Sadr, Ayatollah
* Iyad Allawi, former Prime Minister of Iraq
* Sayyed Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah, Iraqi-born Lebanese Ayatollah
* Peri Cochin, television host
* Rola Bahnam, television presenter
* Saad Hariri, politician (Iraqi mother)
* Bahaa Hariri, billionaire and brother of Saad Hariri
* Hussain Mohammed Al-Amily, author
* Hind Rassam Culhane, professor
* Sharif Hikmat Nashashibi co-founder and chairman of Arab Media Watch
* Raad Ghantous, interior designer [ [http://www.sanclementejournal.com/pastissues/2004/2004_01/sanclementean.htm ~~~The San Clemente Journal ~~~ ] ]
* Nahla Chahal, writer, journalist, researcher and activist [ [http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/HH17Ak02.html Nahal:activist] ]
* Sheila Savar, founder of Savar & Associates [ [http://www.nawbo.org/spotlight_archive.cfm?mid=60 Member spotlight archive] ]
* Remy Munasifi, comedian
* Randa Chahal Sabbag, film director
* Jana El Horr, activist [ [http://www.aicongress.org/speakers-sudan.htm Arab-Muslim Voices for Justice in Sudan ] ]
* Jalal Toufic, artist
* Ahmad al-Safi al-Najafi, poet [ [http://books.google.com/books?id=JgTuQSngNOwC&pg=PA53&lpg=PA53&dq=born+to+an+iraqi+father&source=web&ots=kmIUXGzB5O&sig=OJrGSvFAFt3BBdF1xfyk-QRPI8M Iraqi Lebanese Poet] ]
* Haidar al-Abbadi, Iraqi politician
*Victor Nacif, Vice President of Design Business Aspects for Nissan Design America [ [http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS217281+17-Jan-2008+PRN20080117 Nissan Exec Honored as Latin-American Executive of the Year | Reuters ] ]
*Aida Schlaepfer, filmaker
*Safia Taleb Ali al-Suhail, Iraqi politician (Lebanese mother)

References