Religious Minorities in Iraq - by Maria Rita Corticelli (Paperback)

About the Book

Based on interviews and archival research, this book reveals the connections and dialogue between the religious minorities living in post-ISIS Iraq

Book Synopsis

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.

Review Quotes

"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."

Birgül Açikyildiz, 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

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.

About the Author

Maria Rita Corticelli is an editor and independent researcher. She is the author of Religious Minorities in Iraq: Co-existence, Faith and Recovery after ISIS (Bloomsbury, 2022). She lives in the UK.