The Pluralism Project at Harvard University

Saeed Khan

Wayne State University
The Impact of the Iraq Crisis upon the Interaction of the Iraqi Sunni, Shi'i & Christian Populations of Michigan

 

Project Description

Introduction:

The recent military campaign in Iraq had a profound impact upon the various religio-ethnic expatriate Iraqi communities in the southeast Michigan region. The Sunni Muslim, Shi'i Muslim and Iraqi Christian (Chaldean) communities each had differing reactions to the events as they developed in their native country. Due to the variance in opinion as to the appropriateness of the action taken by the United States, as well as the uncertainty of the effects such action would have upon their respective communities in Iraq, the relationship of these three groups with each other, locally, was consequently affected. This study seeks to study the impact of events in Iraq upon the interaction among these three communities in aforementioned region, assessing how the fluidity of the situation in Iraq affects the relationships here.

Objectives:

1. To develop a comprehensive profile of each of the three religio-ethnic communities representative of the expatriate Iraqi population in the southeast Michigan area.

2. To develop a comprehensive analysis of the factors affecting the interaction and relationship of the various communities with each other as a function of conditions in their native country.

Components of the Study:

It is the assumption of this study that the impact upon a particular religio-ethnic community in Iraq of various elements of the ongoing campaign in that country has an important effect upon its local analog. Consequently, such impact will be reflected by the relationship of each local analog with each other. Critical to such a study of such relationships shall be an assessment of the perceptions held by each respective local community, both of itself as well as the other Iraqi-American groups. Such analysis shall occur with focus placed on a series of variables.

The variables that will be analyzed are:

(a) Level of identification of each respective community, with its particular political, socio-cultural, linguistic and religious identification, and the importance placed on such identification.

(b) Socio-cultural interaction of each community in the United States prior to the current Iraq campaign, both on an individual level as well as on an organizational/institutional level.

(c) Historical antecedent in Iraq, defined by the condition and treatment of each religio-ethnic community within the country, both on an individual level as well as in the aggregate.

Expected Results:

It is expected that a direct correlation exists between the condition and future of a particular religio-ethnic community in Iraq and the perceptions of its antecedent in the southeast Michigan area. Such perceptions thereby translated into tangible reactions and interactions with each other in this region. Despite geographical distance and socio-economic, political and cultural parity in the United States, opinions of one group toward another continue to be dictated by events happening in their native country.

Study Plan:

This project shall involve a series of interviews with community and religious leaders of the three representative Iraq-American Communities. This will include:

The Religious Leaders (Imams) of the Shi'i Muslim community in Dearborn, Michigan with substantial Iraq congregations. (e.g. The Islamic Center of America; The Islamic House of Wisdom)

The Religious Leaders (Imams) of the Sunni Muslim community in Dearborn, Michigan with substantial Iraqi congregations. (e.g. Dix Road Mosque)

The Religious Leaders of the Iraqi Christian (Chaldean) community in the Detroit metropolitan area with substantial Iraqi congregations. (e.g. Sacred Heart Parish of the Eastern Catholic Church; St. Thomas Parish of the Eastern Catholic Church)

The Leaders of various Arab and Iraqi community organizations in the Dearborn/Detroit area (e.g. The Arab Community Center for Economic & Social Services; American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee of Greater Detroit; Arab American Institute- Detroit Chapter)