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 …
As a result of the US-led liberation of Iraq in 2003, Iraqi society was forced to confront its past and inconsistencies, and a competition began between Iraq’s political and social components over who would play a key role in this new state and who would manage its resources Shi’a and Kurds fought for control of …
Back to Square One: The Case of Women Rights in Contemporary Iraq Read More »
“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 …
It is known for many around the world the issues women are facing in the Middle East, and particularly Iraq. From personal experience, living in Iraq, with a rebellion mentality to challenge orthodoxies, life becomes impossible of feminists and women rights’ activists to stand for their values without being persecuted. More recently, the aftermath of …
Escalating Violence Against Contemporary Feminist Wave in Iraq Read More »
The past two decades has shown a transformation in the socio-political characteristics, reflected by the governmental change in Iraq. Before the 2003 war, the previously Sunni group, and in particular, the dictator’s family were dominating the political landscape. Yet, post to the dramatic change in 2003, Iraqis witnessed the rise of the religious authorities engaging …
Iraq’s political authority is influenced by more than one leadership entity, one of which is the religious reference, represented by the reference of Ali Al-Sistani and all its religious institutions. The political leadership, as represented by the corrupt ruling parties, is divided between loyalty to Sistani and loyalty to Wilayat Al-Faqih. This loyalty ensures sectarian …
Written by Shermeen Yousif Averroes had said once that using religion is the profitable trade in societies where ignorance is widespread. Unfortunately, the Iraqi government is aware that if they want to control the society to guarantee their continuous ruling and prohibit revolutionary thinking, they need to wrap every falsehood with a religious envelope and …
Written by Arkan Radeef / Translated by Shermeen Yousif The most dangerous people are those who lead religious or sectarian parties without being clergy and whose past is tainted with accusations and suspicions, including the most heinous types of murder, kidnapping, and sectarian incitement, as well as misusing public funds, corruption, violating the law, and …
The media is a means of conveying the news or the point of view or both from one party to the other, and its dangers have become overshadowed by its advantages. The media is a double-edged sword that may benefit or harm and may destroy or revive peace among people if used in the correct …
Written by Arkan Radeef / Translated by Shermeen Yousif Iraq has experienced the most violent wave in its history to liquidate and attack Iraqi competencies of a secular civic character in Iraq, whose civilization has been perverted by the barbarism of militias and sectarian Shia and Sunni parties that have destroyed everything. When the Iraqi people had green hopes …
