Iraq | SAT-7

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History

Iraq is situated in historically significant Mesopotamia, where the first known human civilization, the Sumerians, lived and farmed the land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Under the control of the Ottoman Turks until 1920, Iraq was assigned to the British after World War I under the name Mandate of Mesopotamia. It gained independence in 1932 under the revived Hashemite monarchy, which was overthrown in a military coup in 1958 by the Arab Socialist Ba’ath Party.1  The party remained in power until 2003, with General Saddam Hussein as President from 1979 onwards.

Government

Saddam Hussein was displaced as leader of Iraq following the US-led invasion of 2003. Jalal Talabani became Iraq's first elected president for more than 50 years in 2005.

Social Issues

Iraq has a population of 29 million people, of which 75% are ethnically Arab, 20% Kurdish, and the remainder a mixture of Iraqi Turkmen or foreigners.2  Unemployment stands at 15.4% with a quarter of the population living below the poverty line.3   Following the invasion of 2003, the country has been unstable security-wise, as well as in the ability to provide its people with basic healthcare and public services.

SAT-7 Viewership

Data from a 2008 nationwide study in Iraq found that 97% of the population has access to satellite television and that 18.8%, or 5.3 million people, watch SAT-7.  The study also found that 2.6 million are watching on a regular daily or weekly basis.

Religion

Iraq is 55% Shiite Muslim, 20% Sunni Muslim, 20% Kurdish and 5% Christian, of which the largest denominations are the Assyrian and Chaldean Churches.  The rapid emigration rate of Iraqi Christians, an estimated 3,000 per year,4 indicates that the Christian minority has come under much persecution in recent years.  There have been numerous incidences of violent attacks, kidnappings and murders against Christians in recent years.

Prayer Points

  • Continue to pray for greater stability and security for the people of Iraq.
  • Pray that our Christian brothers and sisters find the courage to remain in Iraq rather than emigrate.
  • Pray that the Lord watches over the families and friends of those lost to the turmoil and violence in recent years.

 

“I am from Iraq and due to the circumstances that we have every day, we cannot go out very much. SAT-7 is the only source for our spiritual growth. I very much like the Christian songs because they are a source of joy and hope in the midst of the hardship we face.”  A female viewer

1. BBC | 2. UNDP 2009 Report | 3.CIA World Factbook | 4. Amnesty International

CHANNELS IN IRAQ

viewer quotes

"May God bless you all. We ask Jesus to extend His hand, as nothing is too difficult for Him. We pray that He would give comfort to victims’ families in Aleppo and all of Syria. And we pray that He would stop this storm."

A Syrian viewer of 'Just for You'

"I'm Maya, 3 and a half years old from Amman, watching your bedtime story every night and can't go to bed before listening to your stories. Mama also watching with me."

From a young child in Jordan

"In a remote village in Afghanistan a Christian worker met an Afghan man who invited him to his house. There he switched on the TV, showed him SAT-7 PARS and said, “This is where I get my food from.” This man also invites his friends to come and watch SAT-7 PARS in this remote village."

A viewer in Afghanistan

"May God bless your work! This was a very sweet episode! May the programme make a big difference in our country, in the name of Jesus!"

A Syrian viewer of 'Just for You'

"Your programmes provide such a wonderful opportunity for me to explain to my children what we believe as Christians in ways they understand. It really is a precious thing to have this channel."

A MOTHER IN TURKEY

"I am from Morocco. I want to serve Jesus with all my heart. Thank you for being the source of encouragement and my spiritual growth. God bless you."

A woman in Morocco

"Five years ago I started seeking for the truth in different religions. I was lost, confused and wanted to reach out to God. I really needed comfort and peace. Thank God I found peace and the truth through the programmes and the songs on my favourite channel SAT-7."

A woman from Saudi Arabia

"I came to know Christ through your programmes. I tried to talk about Jesus to my family but they didn’t want to listen to me. So I turn the TV on during your programmes and, without saying a word, allow your programmes to talk to my family about Jesus Christ. And now they sit and watch the programmes!"

An Iranian woman from Tabriz

"Hello to you dear SAT-7 PARS team. I would like to thank you for all your nice programmes. I came to Christ a few months ago and your teaching programmes helped me to improve in my Christian faith. I am thinking of getting baptised and I would like you to advise me where can I go to get baptised."

A SAT-7 PARS viewer

"Finally, a Syrian programme has come to us! May God bless you and use you to the glory of His name."

A viewer of 'Just for You'

"I am touched by the sermons that I’m watching every Friday. I’m not able to go to church but God has opened a door for me to attend a church service in my house every week! I never thought that one day I would see bold Algerians worshipping the Lord and not afraid to be shown on TV."

An Algerian viewer

"We have a lot of believers in Israel who watch SAT-7 and we want you to pray with us for the salvation of many people in the Holy Land."

A viewer in Israel

"My son loves many of your programmes. I can leave him to watch SAT-7 KIDS without any fear that he will see information, advice or ideas that are not from the heart of God."

A mother of SAT-7 KIDS viewer

"I came across your website by chance. I never knew that Christianity is such a beautiful religion. Your site has helped correct many of the misconceptions and wrong ideas I had about the Christian faith and about Christ. I desperately need to know more about Christianity to be delivered from the aimless and hopeless life I presently live."

A viewer in Morocco