Belgium was the first nation to repatriate Iraqis who fled their homeland when waves of fighting began in the early 1990s. Discouraged after the flood of refugees mopped up every opportunity they were seeking, over 3,800 Iraqi Arabs voluntarily returned to Iraq in 2015. Belgium provided one year of aid for the disillusioned people, mostly men between 25 and 45. Some are returning to Iraq, a land where Iraqi refugees have lost family members, businesses, and their livelihoods.
Most Iraqi Arab Muslims in Belgium are located in the capital city of Brussels.
Because the Diaspora Arabs have been exposed to western culture on a grand scale, their traditional culture and way of life have undergone many changes. As a result, they have experienced much tension.
For most of the Diaspora Arabs who are able to remain in Europe, there has been a greater variety of job opportunities. This has greatly aided their poor living conditions. There is greater freedom for women to leave the home, fewer arranged marriages, and less social pressure to conform to traditional religious practices. Unfortunately, their family ties are weaker when they have lived in Europe.
Iraq is presently in turmoil. This offers both obstacles and opportunities for the Iraqi Arabs to learn more fully of who Jesus truly is, but that will require believers to obey the Lord faithfully.
It was early in the seventh century that Mohammed first preached the tenets of Islam to the Arabs. His successors quickly spread the word of Allah far and wide. Wherever Arabs went, they left elements of their Arab culture, including their religion.
The historical link between Arabs and the Islamic religion is still very strong. Today, most Arabs are Muslims, belonging to a number of sects: The Shi 'ites, the Alawites, the Zaidis, and the Sunnis. Sunni Muslims are the predominant group in most of the Arab world, but in Iraq, the Shi 'ites battle with them for political power.
Fundamentalist Muslims are very outspoken against Christianity. Believers need to regularly pray for the break down of barriers that separate them from Jesus. Most Muslims say they love Jesus, but few have heard his teachings. Resources in the various Arabic dialects are available; however, there needs to be a greater effort to effectively minister to Arabs in each of the European countries.
Ask the Lord to call people who are willing to reach out and share the love of Christ with Iraqi Arabs in Belgium.
Pray that God will raise up faithful intercessors who will stand in the gap for the Iraqi Arabs.
Ask God to strengthen, encourage, and protect the small number of Arabs who have decided to follow Christ in Belgium.
Pray that the softening of their traditional culture will create open doors for the gospel to be preached among them.
Ask the Holy Spirit to soften the hearts of the Arabs towards Christians so that they will be receptive to the gospel.
Ask the Lord to raise up strong local churches among the Diaspora Arabs in Europe.
Scripture Prayers for the Arab, Iraqi in Belgium.
https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/12247/BE
http://blogs.wsj.com/brussels/2015/09/29/as-belgium-turns-to-facebook-to-deter-iraqis-more-arrive-daily/
https://www.iom.int/news/iom-helps-iraqi-migrants-voluntarily-return-home-belgium
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/refugee-crisis-belgium-flies-back-100-disillusioned-iraqi-migrants-whod-rather-die-home-1541327
http://sputniknews.com/europe/20160201/1034030594/eu-migrants-repatriation-flight.html
https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/12247/NL
Profile Source: Keith Carey |
People Name General | Arab, Iraqi |
People Name in Country | Arab, Iraqi |
Natural Name | Iraqi Arab |
Pronunciation |
ee-RAH-kee AE-rub
|
Alternate Names | Arab, Mesopotamian Speakers; Arab-Mesopotamian; Iraqi Arab; Iraqi Arabs; Mesopotamian Spoken; North Iraqi Arab |
Population this Country | 21,000 |
Population all Countries | 18,639,000 |
Total Countries | 24 |
Indigenous | No |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | No |
GSEC | 1 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 1 |
People ID | 12247 |
ROP3 Code | 104056 |
ROP25 Code | 300404 |
ROP25 Name | Arab, Iraqi |
Country | Belgium | ||
Region | Europe, Western | ||
Continent | Europe | ||
10/40 Window | No | ||
National Bible Society | Website | ||
Persecution Rank | Not ranked |
Country | Belgium |
Region | Europe, Western |
Continent | Europe |
10/40 Window | No |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | Not ranked |
Primary Religion: | Islam |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 0.30 %) |
2.00 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
0.00 %
|
Islam |
95.80 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.20 %
|
Other / Small |
2.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
Primary Language | Arabic, Mesopotamian Spoken (21,000 speakers) |
Language Code | acm Ethnologue Listing |
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
Primary Language | Arabic, Mesopotamian Spoken (21,000 speakers) |
Language Code | acm Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
People Groups | Speaking Arabic, Mesopotamian Spoken |
Primary Language: Arabic, Mesopotamian Spoken
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes |
Bible-New Testament | Yes |
Bible-Complete | No |
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) | Online |
Possible Print Bibles | |
---|---|
Amazon | |
World Bibles | |
Forum Bible Agencies | |
National Bible Societies | |
World Bible Finder | |
Virtual Storehouse |
Resource Type ▲ | Resource Name | Source |
---|---|---|
Audio Recordings | Arabic Bible Online | Arabic Bible Outreach Ministry |
Audio Recordings | Audio Bible teaching | Global Recordings Network |
Film / Video | Jesus Film: view in Arabic, Mesopotamian Spoken | Jesus Film Project |
Film / Video | LUMO film of Gospels | Bible Media Group/LUMO |
Film / Video | World Christian Videos | World Christian Videos |
General | Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video | Faith Comes by Hearing |
General | Gospel resources links | Scripture Earth |
Mobile App | Download audio Bible app as APK file | Faith Comes by Hearing |
Text / Printed Matter | Tools for faith conversations | Campus Crusade for Christ |
Photo Source | Christiaan Briggs - Wikimedia Creative Commons |
Map Source | Bethany World Prayer Center |
Profile Source | Keith Carey |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |