One of the largest cities in Iraq, and the most diverse in terms of religion, nationality, and ethnicity.
The smiling port of Iraq (as it is called) is characterized by its diversity, with its Muslim population consisting of both Shia and Sunni, and there is the Sheikhly sect, which has the large Mousawi Mosque in Basra, one of the largest mosques in the city, completed in 1982.
In Basra, many Christian sects have lived since ancient times, whether from the Armenian Orthodox Church or the Assyrian Church of the East, as well as the Chaldean Catholics. There has also been representation from the Latin Church and other sects that have seen a decline in their demographic weight in recent years.
The Mandaean Sabians are also present in Basra, with their ancient presence in this vibrant city, in addition to other religious minorities like the Baha’is.
However, Basra is considered the stronghold of Iraqi Africans, an ethnic group that spreads in southern Iraq, especially in Al-Zubair, who refer to themselves as “the dark-skinned,” and they are distinguished by their impressive musical heritage.
This diversity and its manifestations and multiple faces will be experienced by the participants in a camp where dialogue allows us to remain and elevate in a new camping experience implemented by the Masarat Foundation in partnership with the House of Coexistence and KAICIID.
Participants in the camp will live with Basrawi families and share their daily lives in an experience aimed at contributing to enhancing dialogue as a mechanism for building peace and rejecting hate speech and understanding the other.
