People group profile · PG047595
The Marsh Arabs of Iraq
The Marsh Arabs of Iraq, numbering about 53,000 people, are Unengaged and Unreached. They are an indigenous Arab tribal population of the Mesopotamian Marshes in southern Iraq, whose culture centers on reed-built settlements, fishing, and water buffalo herding.
They are an indigenous people in the Arab, Levant people cluster of the Arab Peoples. Their primary religion is Shia Islam, and they primarily speak Mesopotamian Arabic.
Fast facts
- Country
- Iraq
- Population
- 53,000
- Affinity group
- Northern African and Middle Eastern Peoples
- People cluster
- Arab, Levant
- Primary language
- Mesopotamian Arabic (acm)
- Primary religion
- Shia Islam
- Strategic Progress Index
- Unengaged and Unreached
- Evangelical
- No Known Evangelicals
- GSEC
- Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
- Lostness priority
- Frontier Unreached People Group
- Region
- Western Asia, Asia
Where they live
Gospel status
The Marsh Arabs are Unengaged and Unreached, which means fewer than 2% are evangelical Christians, and there has been no reported church planting activity in the past two years. In GSEC terms, this people group is less than 2% evangelical, some evangelical resources are available, but there has been no active church planting among them within the past two years.
- Congregations exist No
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Marsh Arabs
- Pray that God would send workers to this people group
- Begin sowing the gospel and seek out people of peace
- Plant the first churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice
Primary religion
Shia Islam · Islam
99% adherents
Primary language
Mesopotamian Arabic · Afro-Asiatic family
100% speak Mesopotamian Arabic
Gospel resources in Mesopotamian Arabic
- Bible available, published -
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Marsh Arabs
- Psalm 27:1. Pray that new believers will be strengthened in the face of persecution, with the Lord as their stronghold.
- Romans 12:4–5. Pray that believers from many cultures will work together as one body so that the church is built up.
- Revelation 7:9. Pray for the day when people from this group stand before the throne with every nation, tribe, people and language.
- John 17:3. Pray that many will come to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent.
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