It is historically well-established that the Shiite Marja’iyyah (religious authority) in Najaf, alongside Shiite religious parties, has been a central force in Iraq’s post-2003 devastation, pervasive corruption, and political, economic, and cultural decline. This responsibility mirrors that of the Kurdish leadership, often criticized for its divisive and self-serving policies, as well as the so-called Sunni …
Ignorance, disease, and poverty are three scourges that destroy civilizations and peoples. You cannot find it together in one place and it is at its highest level except in the country of loss, where the one who enters it is missing and the one who escapes it is born, the poet Maarouf Al-Rusafi says: I …
In the heart of Cairo stands the al-Dhakhira Mosque, a structure built in 516 AH by Dhakhira al-Malik Ja’far, a police officer notorious for his cruelty and oppression. He would forcibly drag people off the streets, bind them, and make them work on the mosque’s construction without pay. The only workers in the mosque were …
The Orphan’s Guardian: Muqtada al-Sadr and the Iranian Wali-Alliance Coordination Read More »
Iraq, once a land hailed for its rich history and cultural heritage, has now become a symbol of endless suffering and instability. What was once promised as a country of security, prosperity, and democratic values has devolved into a place where bloodshed and violence are an unfortunate part of daily life. While officials speak of …
Iraq’s Endless Cycle of Violence: A Nation in Crisis Read More »
The pursuit of peace is a noble human endeavor whose echoes are embedded in our lives. It is a mission that radiates optimism for a world characterized by stability, development, coexistence, and cooperation for the prosperity, renaissance, and sustainable development of peoples. The people of the Middle East have always been preoccupied with conflicts that …
Achieving Peace is one of Humanity’s Highest Callings Read More »
Sixteen years have passed since Angela Merkel took over as president of the German country. Merkel hasn’t quit the German machine until the country is now uncontestedly one of the best nations in the world. During Merkel’s era, Germany became an icon dreamed of by the wretched in the far Middle East, to have a …
Iraq, a country once poised for greatness after the fall of its brutal dictatorship, finds itself once again trapped in a cycle of political failure and stagnation. As you walk through the streets of Baghdad and other cities, the eye is drawn to the cacophony of election banners, each one bearing the weight of grand …
The Political Paradox of Iraq: Sadr’s “Integrity” and the Stagnation of Change Read More »
Iraq’s streets are currently alive with the bustle of religious processions marking Arbaeen, complete with tents, tea and coffee stalls, and political slogans and images of party candidates. Yet amidst these religious observances, the everyday Iraqi citizen struggles, burdened by the disruptions these events cause. Streets in Baghdad, already notorious for traffic congestion, are further …
“People of various faiths have followed their leaders blindly, rejecting independent thought and investigation into the origins of their beliefs. This mindset was enforced, prohibiting any questioning, while perpetuating narratives that discouraged independent inquiry and condemned those who disagreed.” – Abu Bakr al-Razi. There are two types of ignorance: religious and scientific. Religious ignorance manifests …
Persian ambitions in Iraq are not new, but they do have clear historical roots. Iranian ambitions in Iraq date back to the Babylonian era, and they continued even after Islam spread to the two civilizations. This Persian state has always considered Mesopotamia to be a natural strategic extension of itself, as a result, the Safavids …
Written by Arkan Radeef In Mesopotamia, we are not free, and our democracy is nothing but a lie. All we really do is choose between one sectarian faction or another, or between killers and the corrupt. It is clear that Iraq has become a state dominated by corrupt sectarian parties and criminal militias, where murder, …
On the morning of October 7 last year, the independent journalist Sherwan Shirwani’s family woke up to a horrifying scene. A large police force stormed their home in the suburbs of Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Shirwani was chased inside the house and had a gun pressed to his head before …