Black Iraqis

Barack Obama's historic run for the presidency of the United States is being closely watched by people all over the world, and Iraq is no different. There is a group of Iraqis who are especially interested in Sen. Obama's success, Iraq's 2 million  Blacks.  Blacks were brought over from Africa as slaves over 1,000 years ago, by wealthy landowners in the Basra region of Iraq. Black Iraqis still reside mostly in Basra, and have been the target of both institutional racism and prejudice. Mr. Abdul  Hussein Abdul Razzaq

(pictured left), a journalist from Basra, formed The Movement of Free Iraqis. The Movement's goal is to press for equal rights and opportunities for Iraq's Black population. This  includes amending the Iraq Constitution to ban discrimination against Blacks.The group held a conference in July to demand that Black Iraqis be considered as an oppressed social group, and to demand that the Iraqi government legislate laws that confront racial discrimination. The Movements wants Black Iraqis to be allowed to participate in the political process,  and the appointment of Blacks Iraqis to cabinet positions. The Movement has had a hard time gaining support, since there are so many other pressing problems in Iraq. Voice of Iraq has highlighted the plight of Black Iraqis, as well as NPR. It is believed that t some wealthy sheiks continue to have Blacks as slaves in Iraq. Black Iraqis are often referred to as "Abd", which is slave in Arabic. There is a social acceptance of this centuries old tradition of discrimination against Blacks in Iraq. Mr.Razzaq  regrets not launching his political group five years ago, after the toppling of Sadam Hussein's regime. He says it was a time for nation building and since Black Iraqis have given so much to their nation, he thought they would be included in the new parliament. He thought wrong.