Al Jazeera English - Middle East - Black Iraqis claim discrimination: "Black Iraqis in the southern province of Basra are complaining of discrimination, saying they are not fairly represented in the state.
African Iraqis have lived in the country for centuries and now number more than one million.
Many of them are descendants of African slaves brought to Iraq. Many Iraqis still refer to them by their ancestral name, abeed - meaning slaves.
Salem Shaaban is a member of the Free Movement of Iraqis, advocating more rights for African Iraqis.
He says black people in Iraq feel there is a tradition of discrimination against them in the society.
'For example when two people fight in the street and one is black and the other is white, they say X had a fight with the slave. It really hurts.'"
African Iraqis have lived in the country for centuries and now number more than one million.
Many of them are descendants of African slaves brought to Iraq. Many Iraqis still refer to them by their ancestral name, abeed - meaning slaves.
Salem Shaaban is a member of the Free Movement of Iraqis, advocating more rights for African Iraqis.
He says black people in Iraq feel there is a tradition of discrimination against them in the society.
'For example when two people fight in the street and one is black and the other is white, they say X had a fight with the slave. It really hurts.'"
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