Iraq
Over 95% of the people living in Iraq are Muslims. The Christian population has been estimated to be 1.5% of the 29 million population.

Monarchy overthrown in a violent revolution in 1958. The Baathist military regime, with its secularist pan-Arab socialism, became a repressive dictatorship under Saddam Hussein. A massive military machine was built with the connivance of other Arab oil countries (and Western powers greedy for petrodollars). It was used to protect the dictatorship. repress the Kurds and Shi'a, launch a war against Iran (1980-88) and invade Kuwait in 1990. Although evicted from Kuwait and suffering heavy damage in the 1991 Gulf War, Iraq was not totally defeated. Sophisticated propaganda, ruthless suppression of dissent and cunning evasion of UN sanctions have enabled the regime to survive despite its isolation and the military 'no-fly' zones in both the north and south maintained by the USA and UK.

Pan-Arab socialism rather than Islam is the ideology of the Baathist regime. Religious minorities were favored by Saddam Hussein if they demonstrated political loyalty. Christians have had increasing freedom for worship and witness since 1968, but still suffer from discrimination.