For as long as I can remember, I was known as “the son of a missing man”, and I lived with that title throughout my childhood and adolescence. Hussam did not escape this label until he joined the military in 1997. By then, he had become…
Ahmed spent more than four and a half years in unlawful detention, where he was subjected to torture in Iraq. Fifteen years after his release, he still plans his commute around the buildings and cars that could take him back. A story about what outlives…
After the euphoria of World Cup qualification has faded, some difficult questions began to surface, reflecting on the flawed logic that Iraqi football keeps rehashing: who really gets to represent the national team, and why the debate keeps pitting local players against those raised abroad.
Across Anbar, women and children left behind by enforced disappearance face poverty, isolation and years of political promises that have failed to reveal the fate of those they love.
Through one cat’s journey between veterinary clinics in Iraq, this article exposes a troubled sector marked by weak oversight, neglectful clinics and a lack of accountability. A system meant to protect animals is instead compounding their suffering.
Why are people more afraid of seeking treatment for anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions than of dealing with the illness itself? How does psychological suffering become a source of stigma…
The story begins with the last Shallaba of Najaf, the rice farmers fighting to save their land before Al Mishikhab loses the fragrant Anbar rice that has defined its agricultural identity for…
“Every area of Sinjar, every street in Mosul, and every road in Tal Afar or Ba'aj reminds me of the brutality of ISIS. It makes me ask myself: Can I live here?…
As Iraqi dance gains visibility on social media, Iraqi dance teacher and researcher Assala Ibrahim discusses changing attitudes towards the discipline, the role of women in preserving tradition and culture through dance,…
Why are people more afraid of seeking treatment for anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions than of dealing with the illness itself? How does psychological suffering become a source of stigma…
The story begins with the last Shallaba of Najaf, the rice farmers fighting to save their land before Al Mishikhab loses the fragrant Anbar rice that has defined its agricultural identity for…
“Every area of Sinjar, every street in Mosul, and every road in Tal Afar or Ba'aj reminds me of the brutality of ISIS. It makes me ask myself: Can I live here?…
As Iraqi dance gains visibility on social media, Iraqi dance teacher and researcher Assala Ibrahim discusses changing attitudes towards the discipline, the role of women in preserving tradition and culture through dance,…
Movement has become Ishtar Obaid’s language of change. Whether on a skateboard, a bicycle, or the jujitsu mat, the two-time world champion has dedicated herself to creating opportunities for Iraqi girls and women to participate in sport, build community, and be visible. Drawing on conversations with Obaid, this article explores her return to Iraq, the communities she has built, and her vision for empowering women through sport.
Durr’s story traces how a young girl from eastern Baghdad found her way into the world of shooting. Told by her father, he recounts how, with perseverance, family support and hours of training on the humble roof of her home, she went on to win gold despite the most challenging circumstances.
This testimony recounts how Kawther Bashar’s attempt to escape violence and a forced marriage ended with her murder in the hills of Al-Nahrawan.
From primary school to university and the workplace, Doaa, Amal, and Lamees have spent years searching for one of their most basic rights: access to a clean toilet. From dealing with broken, absent, locked, or even mixed-gender facilities, their stories reveal the daily struggle that women in Iraq face to find a usable toilet.
In December 2025, the author accessed newly released British government files at The National Archives in London. Twenty-three years after the invasion of Iraq, they shed light on allegations of abuse by UK forces during the 2003 war – revealing how claims long reported by Iraqis were understood and managed within the British state.
Movement has become Ishtar Obaid's language of change. Whether on a skateboard, a bicycle, or the jujitsu mat, the two-time…
Movement has become Ishtar Obaid's language of change. Whether on a skateboard, a bicycle, or the jujitsu mat, the two-time world champion has dedicated herself to creating opportunities for Iraqi girls and women to participate in sport, build community, and be visible. Drawing on conversations with Obaid, this article explores…
Durr's story traces how a young girl from eastern Baghdad found her way into the world of shooting. Told by…
Durr's story traces how a young girl from eastern Baghdad found her way into the world of shooting. Told by her father, he recounts how, with perseverance, family support and hours of training on the humble roof of her home, she went on to win gold despite the most challenging…
This testimony recounts how Kawther Bashar's attempt to escape violence and a forced marriage ended with her murder in the…
This testimony recounts how Kawther Bashar's attempt to escape violence and a forced marriage ended with her murder in the hills of Al-Nahrawan.
From primary school to university and the workplace, Doaa, Amal, and Lamees have spent years searching for one of their…
From primary school to university and the workplace, Doaa, Amal, and Lamees have spent years searching for one of their most basic rights: access to a clean toilet. From dealing with broken, absent, locked, or even mixed-gender facilities, their stories reveal the daily struggle that women in Iraq face to…
In December 2025, the author accessed newly released British government files at The National Archives in London. Twenty-three years after…
In December 2025, the author accessed newly released British government files at The National Archives in London. Twenty-three years after the invasion of Iraq, they shed light on allegations of abuse by UK forces during the 2003 war - revealing how claims long reported by Iraqis were understood and managed…
From mourning gatherings and religious pilgrimages to secret rituals and calls for suicide, this piece traces the story of the Qurban Group in southern Iraq, and how it draws some young people into extremist beliefs that promise salvation through death.
In this article, the author examines how Iraq’s Personal Status Code has weakened legal safeguards for women and girls, particularly by facilitating child marriage and creating a parallel religious legal regime. Drawing on...
