Separation of Church and State in Iraq

Module 3 Written Assign – Separation of Church and State The main religions in Iraq include Islam, Christian and Sunni and with this culture there is a large amount of different religions within the people. Islam is the officially recognized religion of Iraq and is practiced by about 95% of the population. Islam itself does not distinguish between the church and the state, so any distinctions between religion and law are the result of recent developments. Although it has been known that Islam was the official religion of Iraq under Saddam Hussein, it was kept for the most part a defused social and political force behind that of the Ba’ath party. In 1994, under pressure from economic sanctions, years of war and fears of growing Islamic influence in the region, that Saddam embarked on a campaign to capitalize on Islam and use it against the US and UN sanctions programs and forces that might diminish his control. It was not until US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 that toppled Saddam that these communities were finally able to make their opinions heard-both religious and political. In such a dynamic economic, political, and social conditions, religious communities and the leaders continue to shape and mirror Iraq’s political landscape. (Translation, News, & Analysis of Contemporary Islamic Thought) Religion is what ruled the people of Iraq, but now with the removal of Saddam Hussein, the hurdle to overcome is to create a government where all citizens can enjoy the same freedom of other democratic countries. Since religion is so strong in this country, the history associated with religion needs to be carefully compared to democracy to see whether democracy can stand strong in Iraq. The values of democracy are human rights and liberties and government representatives chosen by the people. It seems after the removal of Saddam, religion has become a new way for resistance against foreign presence and Islam is once again being promoted as the way of life for