Iraq, a nation found in Middle East is bordered to the north, east, south and west by Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Iran, Jordan, Persian Gulf and Turkey.

It has an area of 438,317 sq km. 

The population in Iraq is 26,783,383; three-fourths of the population comprises of Arabs, one-fifth Kurds and the rest include several ethnic groups among them Chaldean, Armenian and Jewish.

Islam, the state religion has a high following of believers at 95 percent.

The official language is Arab at 80 percent followed by Kurdish at 15 percent.

Marriage in Iraq

Marriage in Iraq is arranged by the parents of the spouses. There are some circumstances where a parent(s) decision in the arrangement of marriage will not be allowed. According to Everyculture, “… a law was passed that gave authority to a state-appointed judge to overrule the wishes of the father in the event of an early marriage.” In the case where either a woman or man desires to marry or be married, the parents’ consent or approval is needed. It is them who decide whether their daughter or son should be married or marry.

This arranged type of marriage is not common nowadays and it is rare for marriage to occur in different ethnic groups in Iraq.

Domestic life in Iraq

In Iraq a family can decide to live by itself (nuclear) or with other members of the family (extended). The extended family according to Everyculture consists of the older couple, sons, their wives and families, and unmarried daughters. Also, other dependent relatives may make up part of this group, and the oldest male heads the group.

It states that the older male manages property and makes the final decisions regarding such things as the type of education the children receive, their occupations, and whom they will marry.

The housework and child-rearing responsibilities lie with all females in the household. “If the couple can afford to live in a nuclear household, women, even though they work outside the home, retain all domestic and child-care responsibilities,” states Everyculture in the article ‘Countries and their culture: Iraq.’ It further says, “The challenge of the woman’s role in this situation is that there is no change in cooking methods or materials, and they are isolated from the help and emotional support of other female members.”

It is required in Iraq for each family to have more than four children by the government. This is because four children or fewer are considered a threat to national security.

Inheritance in Iraq

When a father dies and had sons and daughters, the sons would normally receive or inherit twice of their siblings, sisters if they have. This is according to Islamic rule.

Death in Iraq

When a person dies the funeral takes place the following day. They are simple funerals whereby the dead is wrapped in a white cloth and his/her body placed in a plain box, if available.

Men in Iraq usually greet each other by holding their hands or kissing each other’s cheeks. This is not allowed between men and women.