Religious Minorities in Iraq: Co-Existence, Faith and Recovery after ISIS

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The religious minorities of Iraq suffered immense violence at the hands of ISIS and they are now trying to rebuild their lives. In their own words, this book tells their stories of resilience against oppression, creativity in the darkest moments, and hope amidst death. Covering the experiences of the Christians, Kakais, Yezidis, Sunni Muslims and Shabaks, among others, this is an in-depth investigation that reveals how the different communities narrate their beliefs and deal with life and recovery in the aftermath of ISIS. Existing literature on the religious minorities in Iraq treats them in isolation as if they do not interact. This is the first book to show that a strong network between them operates in the absence of a strong civil society and based on a common desire to coexist, reconstruct their society and build peace. Over three years, the author visited religious and archaeological sites and interviewed more than one hundred people between representatives of the religious communities, academics, activists, politicians, policy makers and refugees. Among them are victims and persecutors, men, women and children, all who have been overwhelmed by the tragic events of the last few years. The author shows that all these groups are animated by the same desire for a new, more tolerant society and that their treatment of each other is nurtured by their shared experience of persecution and oppression.

Reviews

This book is a fascinating blend of history, ethnicity, religions, sects, and current politics of Iraq and its minorities in the north. It is a leading-edge on variety of ethnic and small religious groups in the region, reflecting on their situation and their co-existence in the Iraqi Kurdistan region, especially at the conclusion of ISIS control. It is a delightful book around some ignored minorities that not much light has been shed on. -- Shak Hanish, National University, USA
"An excellent book for those who want to explore the past and present of the minorities of the Kurdish Region and Iraq. It witnesses how these people have stood up against their usurpers to preserve their identities for hundreds of years and their legitimate struggle to co-exist in peace." * Birgl Aikyildiz, Associate Professor, Harran University, Turkey *
Maria Rita Corticelli has produced a must-read primer for anyone interested in exploring Iraq's religious minorities and their painful narrative and history. Read this book and learn from one of the best sources how Iraq was turned from a cradle of mankind and diversity to a graveyard for both since the 1920s. * Bayar M. Sevdeen, AHDA Fellow, Columbia University, USA *

Author Bio

Maria Rita Corticelli is a consultant for the Shoah Foundation at the University of Southern California, USA and analyst for the Euro-Gulf Information Center in Italy. In Iraq she worked with the International Commission for Missing Persons (ICMP), for IMPACT-IRAQ, a Geneva-based think tank, and for the BBC World Service on programmes supporting communities at risk of extinction in the country.