Iraqis in Cleveland

2021

Arab American Heritage Month

Arab Americans have roots in 22 countries located in the Middle East and North African regions: Algeria, Bahrain, the Comoros Islands, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Mauritania, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. And within all those countries, there are various languages, religions, traditions that are now part of our American story. There are nearly 3.5 million Arab Americans in the United States, according to the Arab American Institute. Establishing Arab American Heritage Month was critical in combatting post-9/11 anti-Arab sentiments, and while Arab Americans still face prejudice regularly, acknowledging their fight for recognition and equality - and becoming better allies - is something we can all contribute toward.

CAMEO president Pierre Bejjani receiving
Arab American Heritage Month Proclamation

2019

Cleveland American Middle East Organization 49th anniversary

CAMEO honored Dr. Nizar Zein, Mr. Husein Rabah and Mediterranean Market at the event.

CAMEO Board Members

Honoree Husein Rabah and family members

2018

Cleveland American Middle East Organization 48th anniversary

CAMO honored Dr. Mansoor Ahmed, Mr. Ali Faraj and Kan Zaman Middle Eastern Restaurant at the event.

Cleveland American Middle East Organization (CAMEO) board members Faris Alameh, Pierre Bejjani, Sam Tanious, Tony Abdulkarim and Abby Mina with honorees Dr. Mansoor Ahmed and Mr. Ali Faraj

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2017

Cleveland American Middle East Organization 47th anniversary

Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish and CAMEO Board

2015

Iraqi American Dr. Ali Alhaddad recites Qabbani poems

Dr. Alhaddad recited several poems in both Arabic and English and explained them - all from memory!

Dr. Ali Alhaddad

Page 1 is the main page that covers the dignitaries, speeches and more.

Page 2 includes poetry recitations in both English and Arabic.

Page 3 features people posing with the bust of Qabbani.

Page 4 shows the bust up close and the Syrian Garden.

It was a great event and this is a great addition to the Cultural Gardens.

Submit your Cleveland Iraqi jobs, classes and other opportunities.

Submit your Cleveland Iraqi Feedback and Memories.

Formerly part of the Ottoman Empire, Iraq was occupied by Britain during the course of World War I; in 1920, it was declared a League of Nations mandate under UK administration. In stages over the next dozen years, Iraq attained its independence as a kingdom in 1932.

A "republic" was proclaimed in 1958, but in actuality a series of strongmen ruled the country until 2003. The last was Saddam Husayn. Territorial disputes with Iran led to an inconclusive and costly eight-year war (1980-88).

In August 1990, Iraq seized Kuwait but was expelled by US-led, UN coalition forces during the Gulf War of January-February 1991. Following Kuwait's liberation, the UN Security Council (UNSC) required Iraq to scrap all weapons of mass destruction and long-range missiles and to allow UN verification inspections. Continued Iraqi noncompliance with UNSC resolutions over a period of 12 years led to the US-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003 and the ouster of the Saddam Husayn regime.

US forces remained in Iraq under a UNSC mandate through 2009 and under a bilateral security agreement thereafter, helping to provide security and to train and mentor Iraqi security forces. In October 2005, Iraqis approved a constitution in a national referendum and, pursuant to this document, elected a 275-member Council of Representatives (COR) in December 2005. The COR approved most cabinet ministers in May 2006, marking the transition to Iraq's first constitutional government in nearly a half century.

In January 2009 and April 2013, Iraq held elections for provincial councils in all governorates except for the three governorates comprising the Kurdistan Regional Government and Kirkuk Governorate. Iraq held a national legislative election in March 2010 - choosing 325 legislators in an expanded COR - and, after nine months of deadlock the COR approved the new government in December 2010. Nearly nine years after the start of the Second Gulf War in Iraq, US military operations there ended in mid-December 2011.

(facts courtesy of CIA World Fact Book)