““Working with the Iraqi: Practical Working with the Iraqi: Practical

Challenges and Helpful TipsChallenges and Helpful Tips””

Issam Smeir, LCPCIssam Smeir, LCPC

QUIZQUIZ• What was the major cause of the 1991 Persian Gulf War? What was the major cause of the 1991 Persian Gulf War?

1.1. Iraq began amassing weapons of mass destructionIraq began amassing weapons of mass destruction2.2. Iraq invaded Kuwait Iraq invaded Kuwait 3.3. Iraq used poisonous gas against the KurdsIraq used poisonous gas against the Kurds

• What was the major cause of the Iran-Iraq war (1980–1989)?What was the major cause of the Iran-Iraq war (1980–1989)?– Water Water – OilOil– ReligionReligion

• During the Iran-Iraq war whom did the U.S. support?During the Iran-Iraq war whom did the U.S. support?– IranIran– IraqIraq– The U.S. remained neutralThe U.S. remained neutral

• What branch of Islam do the majority of Iraqis follow?What branch of Islam do the majority of Iraqis follow?– SunniSunni– Shi'ite Shi'ite – WahhabiWahhabi

• What is the size of Iraq's oil reserves?What is the size of Iraq's oil reserves?– The largest in the worldThe largest in the world– The fourth largest in the worldThe fourth largest in the world– The tenth largestThe tenth largest

QUIZQUIZ• Kurds make up Kurds make up

– ½ of Iraq population½ of Iraq population– 1/8 of Iraq population1/8 of Iraq population– 1/5 of Iraq population1/5 of Iraq population

• Ashoura is a religious event that is celebrated byAshoura is a religious event that is celebrated by– ShiiteShiite– SunniSunni– Christian AssyriansChristian Assyrians

• Which of the following does not border Iraq?Which of the following does not border Iraq?• JordanJordan• Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia• Afghanistan

• Iraq gained its independence from Iraq gained its independence from – TurkeyTurkey– Great BritainGreat Britain– FranceFrance

Iraq: fact sheetIraq: fact sheet

• Official Name:Official Name: Republic of Iraq, Republic of Iraq, (Al Jumhouriya Al'Iraqia) Arabic(Al Jumhouriya Al'Iraqia) Arabic• Capital:Capital: Baghdad. Baghdad.• Size: Size: 172,960 square miles (3 times the size of the state of 172,960 square miles (3 times the size of the state of

Illinois)Illinois)• Population (1997 estimate)Population (1997 estimate) 22,219,289; 109.0 persons per 22,219,289; 109.0 persons per

square mile (70 percent urban, 30 percent rural.) square mile (70 percent urban, 30 percent rural.) • Ethnicity/race: Ethnicity/race: Arab 75%–80%, Kurdish 15%–20%, Turkoman, Arab 75%–80%, Kurdish 15%–20%, Turkoman,

Assyrian, or other 5%Assyrian, or other 5%• Religions:Religions: Islam 97% (Shiite 60%–65%, Sunni 32%–37%), Islam 97% (Shiite 60%–65%, Sunni 32%–37%),

Christian or other religions (Sa’bah and Yazedeiah) 3%Christian or other religions (Sa’bah and Yazedeiah) 3%• Major Cities (1985 estimate)Major Cities (1985 estimate) Baghdad (4,648,600), Basra Baghdad (4,648,600), Basra

(616,700), Mosul (570,900).(616,700), Mosul (570,900).• Major Religion:Major Religion: Islam (official). Other religions: Christianity Islam (official). Other religions: Christianity• Major Languages Major Languages Arabic (official), Kurdish, Assyrian, Armenian Arabic (official), Kurdish, Assyrian, Armenian • Literacy:Literacy: 40 percent. 40 percent.

Geography & populationGeography & population

Kurds

Sunni Arabs

Shiite Arabs

•Kurds

•15-20% of Iraq’s pop.

•Mainly Sunni Muslims Some Christians, Atheists

•20 millions spread into 5 nations

•Brutally persecuted in all the countries that they live in

Sunni Arabs

20% of Iraq

The powerful minority since

the independence of

Iraq

Shiite The voiceless

majority in iraq

They live mainly in the south

and the center of Iraq

Iraqi Refugee: Internal and external Iraqi Refugee: Internal and external displacementdisplacement

Iraqi Refugee: Internal and external Iraqi Refugee: Internal and external displacementdisplacement

IslamIslam

• Muslims accept five pillars of the faith:Muslims accept five pillars of the faith:– Submission to God, Submission to God, – PrayerPrayer– Fasting,Fasting,– Charity Charity – Pilgrimage to Mecca. Pilgrimage to Mecca.

• There are two dominant sects in Islam: There are two dominant sects in Islam: Shiites and SunnisShiites and Sunnis– Split over leadership 1,400 years ago, leading to Split over leadership 1,400 years ago, leading to

variations in law, theology and practicesvariations in law, theology and practices

UNITED IN ISLAM, DIVIDED IN PRACTICEUNITED IN ISLAM, DIVIDED IN PRACTICE

• Elected by the Muslim Elected by the Muslim community, based on merit and community, based on merit and consensus. No special consensus. No special reverence for historic imams. reverence for historic imams. Scholars and legal experts offer Scholars and legal experts offer non-binding opinions.non-binding opinions.

• Three key cities in the life of Three key cities in the life of Mohammed: Mecca, Medina Mohammed: Mecca, Medina and Jerusalemand Jerusalem

• Month of Ramadan; Eid al-Fitr, Month of Ramadan; Eid al-Fitr, (feast ending Ramadan); Eid al-(feast ending Ramadan); Eid al-Adha, (festival of sacrifice after Adha, (festival of sacrifice after pilgrimage to Mecca); Al-Hijra pilgrimage to Mecca); Al-Hijra (the Muslim New Year)(the Muslim New Year)

• Five times daily. Call to prayer Five times daily. Call to prayer invokes God and Mohammed. invokes God and Mohammed. Forehead touches prayer rug Forehead touches prayer rug when prostrating.when prostrating.

• WorldwideWorldwide

• Hereditary. Imams directly descended Hereditary. Imams directly descended from Ali are revered as infallible from Ali are revered as infallible sources of religious guidance. Today, sources of religious guidance. Today, mullahs or ayatollahs are arbiters of mullahs or ayatollahs are arbiters of religious law and practice and lead religious law and practice and lead communal prayers. communal prayers.

• Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem, plus Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem, plus Najaf and Karbala in modern-day Iraq, Najaf and Karbala in modern-day Iraq, for their ties to martyred imams.for their ties to martyred imams.

• The same, plus Ashura (marking the The same, plus Ashura (marking the martyrdom of Ali's son Hussein at martyrdom of Ali's son Hussein at Karbala in A.D. 680), and several Karbala in A.D. 680), and several other days honoring key moments in other days honoring key moments in the lives of imams.Three times daily.the lives of imams.Three times daily.

• Call to prayer also invokes the name Call to prayer also invokes the name of Ali. Forehead rests on a pebble of of Ali. Forehead rests on a pebble of Karbala clay to recall martyrs.Karbala clay to recall martyrs.

• Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, BahrainIran, Iraq, Lebanon, Bahrain

Sources: USA TODAY research; Council on American-Islamic Relations; Reza Aslam, professor of religion, University of California-Riverside

•Leaders

•Holy Cities

•Holy Days

•Prayer

•Primary location

Sunnis Shiites

CultureCulture

Invisible

(Assumptions)

(Value)

Visible

(Behaviors)Self Responsibili

ty

Time Control

Functional “Abdullah”Functional “Abdullah”

• CollaborationCollaboration

• HierarchyHierarchy

• DutiesDuties

• HospitalityHospitality

• DignityDignity

Functional “Amy”Functional “Amy”

• IndependenceIndependence

• CompetenceCompetence

• IndividualismIndividualism

• EqualityEquality

• AssertivenessAssertiveness

Practical ChallengesPractical Challenges

• Cultural AdjustmentCultural Adjustment

• Family StructureFamily Structure

• ExpectationsExpectations

• CommunicationCommunication

• Conflict resolutionConflict resolution

Family StructureFamily Structure

• Loss of a parental roleLoss of a parental role

• Reverse family rolesReverse family roles

• Hierarchy vs. EgalitarianismHierarchy vs. Egalitarianism

• Closeness vs. DistanceCloseness vs. Distance

Where is home?Where is home?Acculturation Acculturation StrategiesStrategies

Embracing ones’ native culture

Embracing the new culture

(I am part of both cultures, I am at home in both places)

I am only comfortable in my own culture and am not interested in the new one.

(I am lost, I am neither here no there, I do not have a place to call home)

(I want to be an American and have nothing to do with my original culture)

Non Western Ways of Handling Non Western Ways of Handling ConflictConflict

• MediationMediation

• MisdirectionMisdirection

• IndicationIndication

• Taking the low down positionTaking the low down position

• SilenceSilence

• Relational Yes or NoRelational Yes or No

Issam SmeirMosaic Counseling LLC

Issamsmeir@mosaiccounseling.org(www.mosaiccounseling.org )