Iraq: Mixed Couples Forced to Divorce Amid Violence

Hundreds of such mixed couples have been forced to divorce due to pressure from insurgents, militias or families who fear that they could be singled out, according to Peace for Iraqis Association (PIA), a local NGO devoted to the issue.

"Families living in happiness are now victims of sectarian violence," said Ahmed Farid, a psychologist and spokesperson for PIA. "Children are being forced to see their parents divorced, not because of personal problems but because someone believes that mixed marriages are unacceptable in the circumstances of Iraq."