Total population | |
---|---|
10,000 to 13,000 | |
Regions with significant populations | |
Baghdad, Basra, Mosul, Baqubah | |
Languages | |
Palestinian Arabic, Iraqi Arabic | |
Religion | |
Predominantly Sunni Muslims with some Christians (mostly Roman Catholic) | |
Related ethnic groups | |
Palestinian people |
Palestinians in Iraq are people of Palestinians, most of whom have been residing in Iraq after they were displaced in 1948.[1] Before 2003, there were approximately 34,000 Palestinians thought to be living in Iraq, mainly concentrated in Baghdad. However, since the 2003 Iraq War, the figure lies between 10,000–13,000, although a precise figure has been hard to determine.[2][3][4] The situation of Palestinians in Iraq deteriorated after the fall of Saddam Hussein and particularly following the bombing of the Al-Askari Mosque in 2006.[citation needed] Since then, with the rise in insecurity throughout Iraq, they have been the target of expulsion, persecution and violence by Shia militants, and the new Iraqi Government with militant groups targeting them for preferential treatment they received under the Ba'ath Party rule.[5] Currently, several hundred Palestinians from Iraq are living in border camps, after being refused entry to neighbouring Jordan and Syria. Others have been resettled to third countries.[6]