Quick Facts
- Population Size: 9,700
- Concentrated Areas: Arlington, Haymarket, Lanham
- Primary Branch of Islam: Sunni and Shia
- Primary Country of Origin: Iraq
- Primary language: Arabic (Levantine dialect)
Overview
Iraqi-Americans’ sense of belonging differs from many other diaspora populations because their host country has waged war on their homeland. Many Iraqi Arabs have left their homes to escape authoritarianism, wars, economic sanctions, imperial interventions, and violence. Three distinct waves of immigration include a small amount before 1991, a significant influx during and after the 1991 Iraqi uprisings, and from 2003 until the present.
Many Iraqis in America are still dealing with pain, grief, or trauma, with nearly every family being affected in some way. At the same time, they are often focused on building a new life here. Due to the high expenses in the DC area, this can sometimes mean working multiple jobs or struggling to make ends meet. Some Iraqis who are newer to the area are also working to learn English in order to get better jobs and opportunities.
Prayer Points
- Pray that God would draw Iraqi Muslims to his healing peace. Pray that they would realize Jesus is the Savior, the one heals the brokenhearted.
- Pray that Iraqi Muslims would seek God and find Jesus. Pray that God would reveal Himself to Iraqis through dreams, visions, and conversations with Christians.
- Pray that God would draw Christians into the lives of Iraqi Muslims living in the DC area.
Today’s Prayer Video
Click below to visit Prayercast’s page for a prayer video. As you pray for the Iraqi Muslims in the DC area, pray for Iraqis around the world as well.
Additional Links
Learn more about Iraqi Arabs in North America from UPGNorthAmerica.com. You can also find links to additional resources for sharing with Iraqi Muslims.