Jan 16, 2016
3 Major Waves
1.Post-Monarchy (after 1958 coup)
2.1980-88 Iran-Iraq War, and the 1990-91 Gulf War, Shi’a Uprising, and subsequent respression of the Shi’a
3.Post-Invasion and Post-Ba’athist period (after 2003)
“Refugee” – la’jeen
“Asylum Seeker” – talbin luju’
“Guest”, “Brother”, “Neighbor”
“Exile” - mughtaribin
Mainly in Jordan
Estimates started as high as 750,000 or “nearly a million”
FAFO Report (450 – 500 thousand)
Numbers Game in Syria
Syria
Relatively poorer
Large populations of Sunnis, Shi’a, and Christians
Family, but also part of pre-existing communities with identifiable structure and boundaries
From central and Southern Iraq
Religious freedoms so long as not politicized
Unrestricted entry into schools
Few limitations legally on investment, building, etc.
Exiles Scapegoated
Jordan
Cross-section of socioeconomic class, but includes many wealthy business interests
Primarily Sunni with smaller Christian (13%) and Shi’a (20% of Muslims) communities
Structured around tight-knit family, atomistic rather than cohesive community
Primarily from Baghdad (3/4)
Discrimination of Shi’a
Newly accepted into schools
Legality depends on money & ability to invest
Exiles Scapegoated
Assyrians, Chaldeans, Mandeans, Eastern-rite Catholics
Disproportionate numbers of Christian immigrants
Protected under Saddam (Syria, Iran)
Part of group that is least likely to return (minorities)
Christian tax
In exile, strong organizations for dispersing aid