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Reports

“Leave your dignity at the door”: A testimony from the Iraqi Military College 

At the Iraqi Military College, the first day of learning did not begin with introductions. It began with humiliation. Thirst became a tool of discipline. Insults were part of the curriculum. Beatings were a daily routine. Below s the testimony of a young officer about a training program that did not teach discipline. It tested how far a person could be pushed before breaking.

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Reports

Governing from the top down: How to manufacture civil wars in Iraq 

Civil wars do not erupt solely from sectarian crises. They can also stem from societal rifts caused by poor public services, extreme centralisation, and the spread of hatred across the country. A reflection on Iraq: a country governed from its heights and crumbling at its roots.

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Reports

Shatt Al-Arab: Fishing up Iv fluid bags instead of fish 

In Shatt Al-Arab, fishing lines and nets no longer bring up fish but medical intravenous (IV) bags and human waste. The fish that once thrived can no longer grow. They have adapted by restricting their growth to survive.

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Reports

“Pack your bags. The striking force is on its way!” Faiq Al-Sheikh’s smile amid the regional inferno 

Nearly three years ago, former Iraqi MP, Faiq Al-Sheikh Ali, promised the arrival of a striking force that would overthrow Iraq’s political system. Since then, developments on the ground have given that claim a new resonance.

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Reports

Sweet, white and contested: The women fighting for Samawa’s salt 

In Samawa, southern Iraq, women salt gatherers are battling for their livelihoods after a private investor seized control of the region’s only salt mine – and with it, the future of the community’s traditional trade. This investigative report examines how women have been forcibly and violently displaced from their work.

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Reports

Driven out by noise: The quiet disappearance of Iraqi bats 

In Iraq, bats are known as Saḥayyir Al-Layl – “The one that stays up at night”. Long misunderstood and often viewed as ill-omened creatures that are the harbingers of bad luck. At dusk, when bats would appear in the sky, mothers would call their children inside, warning them that a bat might cling on to their face. Yet how much of this fear is rooted in reality? And where did the bats go?

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Stories

“Hardships and perseverance”: A glimpse into the lives of people of short stature in Iraq 

People of short stature in Iraq face many hardships—from restaurants to government offices and even within their homes. Here is a glimpse into their invisible struggles.

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Reports

Blue hydrogen and the sun: Exploring Iraq’s alternatives to oil 

What viable alternatives can Iraq pursue to transition toward having a more diversified economy—one that reduces environmental harm and improves human well-being?
This is the dilemma facing Iraq, a rentier state that relies heavily on fossil fuels for nearly everything, even as it faces a climate crisis that threatens the state, society, and biodiversity alike.

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Stories

“I’m afraid I’ll lose my money”: Shaimaa and Muhammad’s concerns about digital payment  

The Iraqi government is mandating digital payments, a move strongly promoted by banks. But many Iraqis, like Shaimaa and Muhammad, remain hesitant, expressing fears they might lose their money in the transition. The questions remain: are Iraqis truly ready for this shift? Why are some people afraid of losing their money? How have hidden fees, unexpected “tips” and fraud schemes become new obstacles to digital transformation and cashless systems?

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Reports

Rentier economy and liquidity: What do we know about the uncertain future Iraq is facing? 

Seventy per cent of Iraqi cash is outside the banking system. Governmental and financial institutions are suffering from a shortage of Iraqi dinars, while oil prices may drop. So, what do we know about the unknown future Iraq is heading towards?