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Stories

‘My questions are turned into a weapon to kill me’: the deadly war against Iraq’s journalists

At least 282 journalists have been killed in Iraq in the past 20 years, with many only able to work in exile
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Reports

Two decades after the Iraq invasion: what happened to the promise of education for girls? 

Twenty years ago Iraqi women and girls were promised a new future of liberation and education by former US president Bush, as part of the moral justification for the invasion. The reality is different.

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Stories

Vegetarians in Iraq… Between Bullying and Poor Menus 

Basma and Nour face bullying and difficulty finding suitable food in restaurants because they are vegetarians. However, according to them, they still recommend the vegan experience and reconsidering animal product consumption to preserve health, the environment, and biodiversity.

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Stories

Lose Weight or No Promotion: The Iraqi Army Gets Tough on Officers to Get Slimmer 

There are no accurate statistics on the numbers of overweight officers subjected to examinations and slimming programmes, as units conceal such data for military secrecy, but numbers are estimated to be in their thousands… Iraqi officers and their journey to lose weight or lose a promotion.

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Stories

“Three a day”… Youth of Tishreen Treat Drug Addiction with “Secrecy”

“Three political entities offered funding for the group’s activities, but we refused”, said Amjad Hussein, member of a voluntary group that treats addicts in a city blighted by drugs where dealers operate with no deterrence or fear. This is the story of ambitious young revolutionaries who went on to treat drug addicts.
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Reports

Iraq’s Queer Women: Survival under False Identities and Secret Lives 

“I am constantly reprimanded for rejecting marriage proposals, especially since turning thirty. I often think of emigrating, as fleeing seems the only escape. If my family discovers my sexual orientation, they will kill me in the blink of an eye”. The cruel reality for lesbians who want to live their lives freely.

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Stories

“Al-Taʿshaat”– How the Sexual Exploitation of Iraqi Minors Became an Acceptable Act 

The terms “Al-taʿshaat” [Iraqi term for teens], “Al-heloueen” [catamites], and “Al-froukh” [chicks], which we categorically oppose the use of, characterise gender stereotypes that were created in relation to “masculinity” by heteronormative society, and thus define certain social roles accordingly. This is similar to the social perception of women’s gender roles. The sexual exploitation of Iraqi minors has been transformed into an acceptable act.

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Reports

Al-ʿAsa’ib’s Business Ravages the Banks of the Tigris

Around 50 quarries are scattered in the Tigris River and on its banks in the city of Mosul, with giant excavators desiccating it and making its aquatics vulnerable to extinction. But money, power, and the impulsion to return and rebuild, are the key drivers behind the continuation of this process that ravages the river and threatens its future.
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Reports

Their Mistakes are Fatal. Unlicensed Beauty Centers Owned by Personalities and Protected by Officials

Hundreds of beauty centres are performing operations that may be fatal. Holding them accountable is almost impossible due to the fact that they are owned by well-known personalities who have strong relations with officials and decision-makers in the state.
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Reports

Wives lives are wasted waiting for divorce: Men have priority over women in Iraqi courts

A man can obtain a divorce ruling from the courts within 15 to 30 days. A woman has to wait between up to five years to obtain the same legal ruling often giving up many or all her rights.