Category: Stories

Stories

The Anaesthetist is not God: A dangerous journey through weapons, tribes, and medical errors 

Anaesthesia personnel in Iraq endure a dangerous and challenging journey, one that has led many medical students to avoid pursuing this speciality. This is the story of anaesthetists caught between death threats, tribal extortion, accusations of malpractice, and the broader deterioration and stagnation of the healthcare sector.

Stories

Conforming to standards… from Dexone to weight-loss drugs to body sculpting 

It all began with Dexamethasone to get a curvy body, followed by weight-loss products to shed the extra kilos, and finally, body sculpting to achieve a whole new physique. It’s a long journey, the story of a woman who subjected herself to all these standards, trying pills, syrups, and surgeries along the way.

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.

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?

Stories

“Where is your father?” And the endless questions about my travels

Without my father, I would always be seen as a minor in the eyes of a state that officially recognises me as being in the first quarter of my twenties. Even though I am an adult. My eligibility is also questioned whenever the question that never leaves me is asked: Why are you here alone?

Stories

The deaf and mute in Iraq: neglect, isolation, and the barriers of language      

The deaf and mute community in Iraq had been living in complete isolation, struggling with neglect and a lack of facilities for daily life, most notably, the difficulty of communication. They face challenges in interacting with others in society as well as with state institutions due to language barriers, as they rarely find anyone who can communicate with them, even at a basic level. An article on communication and how it can become a daily challenge.

Stories

“But you’re a virgin!” Being unmarried in an Iraqi gynaecological clinic 

If you are single or never married, you’ll find it difficult to be seen by a gynaecologist or face challenges in having a medical condition acknowledged for examination in hospitals. You may even be asked to bring a male guardian to obtain a doctor’s approval to examine you.

Here are the experiences of four women living with pain.

Stories

Girls’ Diaries of Abuse in an Iraqi High School 

I am not in a place to judge whether the school’s rules and regulations are valid, but the policy they consistently use, relies heavily on sexualizing and slut-shaming minors, putting them at more risk of domestic violence. This culture creates a space where abuse can occur.

Stories

Second-floor voting: Iraqis that can’t reach ballot boxes 

We interviewed 12 organisations concerned with the affairs of disabled people in Iraq and eight people with mobility and visual disabilities who were unable to participate in the 2021 elections. They unanimously agreed that the government had failed to facilitate their participation in voting over the past two decades. Will this be repeated in local elections?

For days before the parliamentary elections on October 10, 2021, Mohammed Al-Ajeeli hoped to participate and vote for the candidate he deemed worthy.

Stories

Vision Beyond the Eye: On Blindness and Sight in Theatre and Football

Darkness has become their world. It is an experience they don’t want anyone to have. Yet, they learn from it. It inspires them. Details are not merely daily habits or fleeting actions in that world. They are like big achievements— indeed they are big achievement. About blindness, its world, and its community in Iraq.