Iraq, Middle East
Population: 27,499,638
Christians: 1-3%
Dominant Religion: Shia Islam
Persecution Ranking: 17th
Political Leader: President
Jalal Talabani (Transitional)Religious Freedom in Constitution: N/A,
Iraq is diverse in many ways. Geographically, there are deserts, there are fertile lands -- well watered by the Euphrates and Tigris rivers, and there are mountainous parts in the north. Ethnically and religiously, about 55% of the population is predominantly Arab Shi'ite, 20% Arab Sunni, 20% Kurdish Sunni, and 5% comprised of other groups, including Turkmen Muslims, and Armenian and Assyrian Christians.. Politically, Iraq is in transition. Saddam Hussein's rule ended in April 2003. Prime Minister Jaafari now heads an interim government, working toward the approval of a new constitution and further elections. During this period of much change, the number of evangelical Protestant churches in Baghdad increased from five in January 2003 to 15 in 2004.
