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A reader recently wrote to me wondering what a 'jensia' is.  I would like to answer her question thoroughly, comparing identification that we use in the States versus the set of cards that the Iraqis use.

To be honest, the systems for identification in the countries are completely different.

In the States, we might use our social security card and birth certificate, if we were applying for a job with the government.  But, for most purposes, any idenification with a photograph, like a driver's license, and being able to write down our social security number by memory is good enough.  A majority of Americans do not even have a passport which is somewhat sad considering that the American passport is quite a perk.

In Iraq, the primary, 'must have on your persons at all times' identification is called the 'jensia.'  Jensia literally means 'citizenship,' but in English we call it a 'nationality identification card.' 

The jensia card includes a current photograph, a person's date of birth, confirmation of Iraqi citizenship and the cardholder's full name:  first name, father's name, grandfather's name and tribe name. 

This card is used many times a day for all business to include driving home through checkpoints.  To be without your jensia for any reason equates to a free adventure to jail.

One of my interpreters, who is currently awaiting his visa to go to the States, demonstrated the importance of the jensia through role playing:

Iraqi Policeman at a checkpoint:  "Jensia, please." [extending out his hand to receive the card]

Iraqi man, civilian:  "Actually, Officer, I left it at home."  (Note:  Interpreters say the word 'actually' a lot.)

Policeman:  "Okay, no problem.  You go to jail now."

Simply put, the jensia presents a man's good name, differentiating himself from suspected or known terrorists.

Interestingly, as important as the jensia is, Iraqis do not have driver's licenses.  All that an Iraqi needs to drive is a car and gasoline.

Iraqis do not have social security cards, as there is no social security.  Iraqis plan for their retirement on their own, usually by having children, who will take care of them later in life.  The entire family will live together or close by indefinitely.

However, the Iraqis do have ration cards:  food and fuel.  One member of the family will carry all the food ration cards to the market once a month and draw government-provided staples, such as milk, flour, sugar, salt, rice, beans, tomato paste, soup, cooking oil, detergent, and soap.  The food is bought with oil revenue, and all Iraqis draw this food, regardless of social status.  The food ration system was actually in place under Saddam and continues to the present with food rations increased and issue dates stabilized.

Similarly, fuel ration cards provide enough fuel for families to run generators for power and to warm their homes with furnaces.  City power is on for about seven hours per day, depending on the area, and is free to all Iraqis.

An Iraqi passport is nearly worthless inside the country.  The passport does not substitute as an identification with photograph.  The jensia is the only accepted identification.

The Iraqi birth certificate's only function is proof of birth in obtaining a jensia.  My interpreters had to get copies of their birth certificate for their visa applications.  They had never used them for anything.  Their parents got their jensias for them the day after they are born.