There are over 18000 Armenians in Iraq. Some 12000 are in Baghdad and the rest in the cities of Kirkuk, Mosul, and Zakho, all in the north of Iraq, and Basra in the south of the country.
Human and material casualties due to war
Due to the war on Iraq in March-April 2003, the Armenian community in Iraq suffered few casualties. Several Armenians lost their lives during subsequent US-UK military operations, and a number of homes belonging to Armenians were destroyed or damaged. An Iraqi Armenian was shot dead by the US soldiers in Baghdad in August 2005, while several other Armenians were victimized by armed groups or explosions.
After the war, the Armenian Club and the priest’s residence at the northern city of Kirkuk, and the Armenian Club at the southern city of Basra were looted by the mob.
Armenians worldwide aid
Armenians worldwide took role in aiding their brothers and sisters in Iraq. For instance, a relief committee was established in California, which provided monetary assistance to Armenian families who were facing distressing circumstances due to the war and to rebuild damaged homes.
The Catholicos of All Armenians H.H. Karekin II issued an appeal to all Armenian dioceses worldwide to aid Iraqi Armenians. Consequently, through the Holy See of Echmiadzin, the Iraqi Armenian community received donations from Armenian Church parishes worldwide.
Donations were also made by the Karageuzian Foundation and other Armenian charities, the UK Committee for the relief of Iraqi Armenians, and the Armenian community of Germany.
Efforts to uphold the educational and the religious rights
The Primate of the Iraqi Armenian Diocese, H.E. Archbishop Avak Asadourian, and community officials exerted considerable efforts in the post-war era to uphold the educational and the religious rights of the Iraqi Armenians.
The establishment of the Armenian National School of Baghdad was one of the priorities. The Diocese formed a committee to reopen the School that was nationalized 30 years ago. The Primate had several contacts with officials of the former Iraqi Governing Council and the Ministry of Education. As a result of these efforts, and for the first time in the history of Iraq, the right to teach Armenian along with other languages in Iraq was stated in the country's transitional and permanent constitutions.
The Primate and the officials of the Community have also made strenuous efforts to recover the ownership of the building of an Armenian secondary school in Baghdad, which was impounded by the previous (Ba’ath) regime.
Large sums of money are needed to prepare the building to open its doors as a secondary school once more, because of the extensive damage caused to the building when it was looted and burned by a mob in the post-war era.
The reopening of the Armenian National School
The Armenian National School of Baghdad was reopened on October 15, 2004, by the Primate of the Iraqi Armenian Diocese, H.E. Archbishop Avak Asadourian. On this occasion, Primate Asadourian wrote the following in Gantegh, the periodical published by the Iraqi Armenian Diocese:
"In an unfortunate moment in the history of Iraq, community and private schools were confiscated by the government in 1974, due to some ambiguous reasons. Thus the Iraqi Armenians lost one of the main pillars of their existence and identity: the Armenian school”.
Describing that the Christian faith emphasizes the importance of hope, the Primate said that the Iraqi Armenians were waiting for the reopening day of the school. That hope came true on October 15, 2004.
"I had the opportunity to live one of the most joyous moments in my 25 years service life to this community", the Primate commented, adding that as the Headmaster of the School he had the privilege to ring the bell of the new school year 2004-2005”.
The Primate became the provisional Headmaster of the School, having the aid of two assistants and 13 schoolteachers. A fee of $70 a year was limited to be paid by each student. Although this amount of money represents a small part of the real cost needed for each student, only 29 out of 161 students were able to pay the fee, while the others were able to pay it in part or unable to pay, due to economical hard conditions prevailed in Iraq. Out of the total cost of nearly $54880, only $8020 was recovered. The Iraqi Armenian Diocese covered the deficit in the amount. So, the Community needs the assistance of the Armenians worldwide in this respect.
The first graduation ceremony of the School was held on July 22, 2005. Out of 23 Sixth-year students, 17 passed the exams from the first try, 5 passed from the second try, and only one student failed in the exams. The Headmaster of the School now is Mr. Karnig Avakian, the Headmaster of the School 3 decades ago before confiscating the School by the government.
Human and material casualties due to war
Due to the war on Iraq in March-April 2003, the Armenian community in Iraq suffered few casualties. Several Armenians lost their lives during subsequent US-UK military operations, and a number of homes belonging to Armenians were destroyed or damaged. An Iraqi Armenian was shot dead by the US soldiers in Baghdad in August 2005, while several other Armenians were victimized by armed groups or explosions.
After the war, the Armenian Club and the priest’s residence at the northern city of Kirkuk, and the Armenian Club at the southern city of Basra were looted by the mob.
Armenians worldwide aid
Armenians worldwide took role in aiding their brothers and sisters in Iraq. For instance, a relief committee was established in California, which provided monetary assistance to Armenian families who were facing distressing circumstances due to the war and to rebuild damaged homes.
The Catholicos of All Armenians H.H. Karekin II issued an appeal to all Armenian dioceses worldwide to aid Iraqi Armenians. Consequently, through the Holy See of Echmiadzin, the Iraqi Armenian community received donations from Armenian Church parishes worldwide.
Donations were also made by the Karageuzian Foundation and other Armenian charities, the UK Committee for the relief of Iraqi Armenians, and the Armenian community of Germany.
Efforts to uphold the educational and the religious rights
The Primate of the Iraqi Armenian Diocese, H.E. Archbishop Avak Asadourian, and community officials exerted considerable efforts in the post-war era to uphold the educational and the religious rights of the Iraqi Armenians.
The establishment of the Armenian National School of Baghdad was one of the priorities. The Diocese formed a committee to reopen the School that was nationalized 30 years ago. The Primate had several contacts with officials of the former Iraqi Governing Council and the Ministry of Education. As a result of these efforts, and for the first time in the history of Iraq, the right to teach Armenian along with other languages in Iraq was stated in the country's transitional and permanent constitutions.
The Primate and the officials of the Community have also made strenuous efforts to recover the ownership of the building of an Armenian secondary school in Baghdad, which was impounded by the previous (Ba’ath) regime.
Large sums of money are needed to prepare the building to open its doors as a secondary school once more, because of the extensive damage caused to the building when it was looted and burned by a mob in the post-war era.
The reopening of the Armenian National School
The Armenian National School of Baghdad was reopened on October 15, 2004, by the Primate of the Iraqi Armenian Diocese, H.E. Archbishop Avak Asadourian. On this occasion, Primate Asadourian wrote the following in Gantegh, the periodical published by the Iraqi Armenian Diocese:
"In an unfortunate moment in the history of Iraq, community and private schools were confiscated by the government in 1974, due to some ambiguous reasons. Thus the Iraqi Armenians lost one of the main pillars of their existence and identity: the Armenian school”.
Describing that the Christian faith emphasizes the importance of hope, the Primate said that the Iraqi Armenians were waiting for the reopening day of the school. That hope came true on October 15, 2004.
"I had the opportunity to live one of the most joyous moments in my 25 years service life to this community", the Primate commented, adding that as the Headmaster of the School he had the privilege to ring the bell of the new school year 2004-2005”.
The Primate became the provisional Headmaster of the School, having the aid of two assistants and 13 schoolteachers. A fee of $70 a year was limited to be paid by each student. Although this amount of money represents a small part of the real cost needed for each student, only 29 out of 161 students were able to pay the fee, while the others were able to pay it in part or unable to pay, due to economical hard conditions prevailed in Iraq. Out of the total cost of nearly $54880, only $8020 was recovered. The Iraqi Armenian Diocese covered the deficit in the amount. So, the Community needs the assistance of the Armenians worldwide in this respect.
The first graduation ceremony of the School was held on July 22, 2005. Out of 23 Sixth-year students, 17 passed the exams from the first try, 5 passed from the second try, and only one student failed in the exams. The Headmaster of the School now is Mr. Karnig Avakian, the Headmaster of the School 3 decades ago before confiscating the School by the government.
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