The Struggle of Ethno-Religious Minorities in Iraq: The case of Kaka'is

Abstract

Kakaism, a minority religion primarily found in Kurdish regions of western Iran, and eastern and northern Iraq, is a case of ethno-religious struggle. Kaka’is practice is an ancient faith, deeply rooted in the Metric religion, which can be traced back to 5,000 years B.C.E. Followers of the faith have been exposed to violence, armed conflicts, and atrocities, and deprivation from the four pillars of the minority rights: the right to exist, the right to non-discrimination, the right to protection of identity, and the right to civic participation. Although the focus of this paper is on the struggle of Kaka’is in Iraq, the comments and conclusions might be relevant for similar contexts in which ethno-religious minorities are oppressed.

Women of Religious Minority Background in Iraq: Redressing Injustices, Past and Present

“…There is a scarcity of literature on the Kakai minority in Iraq (Abas, Jaff and Karami, 2021), so this research is unique in its focus not only on the Kakai people but specifically on the challenges Kakai women encounter within their society at various levels, because of both their religious and gender identities. Others felt the Kakai are a different Muslim minority in terms of race/ethnicity from the Arabs, Kurds and Turkmens.…”

“…This research also comes as the Kakai attempt to ensure their rights within the Draft Constitution of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region, similar to the Kurdistan Region Law ( 5) of 2015, known as the "Protection of the Rights of the Components of Iraqi Kurdistan Law" (Abas, Jaff and Karami, 2021). Should this be achieved, it will be the first constitutional recognition of the Kakai in the history of the Iraqi state.…”