Iraq
Monument to a Fraying Alliance
The planned U.S. consulate complex in Erbil, in Iraq’s autonomous Kurdish region, has been plagued by delays and is being overtaken by changing political circumstances. The substantial compound may stand as a relic of unfulfilled ambition: a case study in the ebb and flow of dynamics in a volatile region.
Iraq’s Disappeared Children
Fayee's tragic case highlights the problem of child abductions in Iraq. While she was lured, abducted and murdered by someone from her neighborhood who was found, tried and convicted, many child abductions in the country are never resolved.
The Road That Embodies Iraqi Kurdistan’s Dysfunctional Politics
Why is the main route between Erbil and Sulaymaniyah, the Kurdistan Region’s two largest and most important cities, a bumpy, dangerous, two-lane road? The lack of an efficient link between the two cities is a perfect example of the Kurdistan Region’s internal divisions, reflecting its dysfunctional politics in physical form.
Iraq Goes Dry Despite Opposition
Iraq’s alcohol ban is out of step with the direction the Middle East is taking and also runs against the growing secularization of Iraqi society, particularly among its very large youth population.
Ashura Rituals In Iraq Highlight Environmental Crisis
Iraq’s climate conditions are only expected to worsen. In addition, activists, who face daily threats, have limited places to organize. The rituals of Ashura are critical not only in drawing attention to these dire conditions, but also in reaching those Iraqis who will be most affected by environmental degradation.
Saddam Hussein’s Extravagant Birthday Cake Was a Major Event
The celebration hall was vast, with the birthday star placed majestically in its middle. I don’t mean Saddam or even any of his children or grandchildren. The character we all eagerly anticipated was Saddam’s birthday cake.
Iraq’s Marshes Parched as Government Focuses on Oil
Iraq’s marshes in the south are drying out, eroding ecosystems and livelihoods while the government has little to offer. Meanwhile, as climate change and neighboring states have contributed to Iraq’s water woes, environmentalists have been subjected to kidnapping for speaking out.