Reports
Shiite majority in Sunni-dominated Nineveh
The December 2023 Nineveh Provincial Council elections saw Shiite dominance for the first time, impacting governance and reconstruction efforts post-ISIS. The Council faces power struggles, and criticisms over representation.
Two decades of “the Sunni Issue” in Iraq… Have the
On the morning of April 9, 2003, the Sunni Arabs in Iraq woke up to a reality they had not played a role in shaping for the first time in their modern history. The scene of American tanks parading through the streets of Baghdad marked the closure of a significant era governed by this group of people in Iraq. The Sunni community as a whole did not smoothly accept this message, and for some, the issue seemed to be about "protecting Israel's security" and "securing oil." While these reasons, if valid, could be considered driving factors for the invasion, the…
The Military Security Institution: 20 Years of Confusion and Construction
Similar to other institutions in Iraq and its key components, the restructured security apparatus, under the leadership of the military governor of Iraq following the invasion, Paul Bremer, experienced fluctuations, uncertainties, and periods of both erosion and occasional progress. This beleaguered institution had already weathered two devastating wars during the reign of former President Saddam Hussein, only to encounter further challenges and constraints in the two decades following his downfall. According to the provisions of the new system's constitution, the Prime Minister is granted the overall leadership of the armed forces. After multiple experiments and the formation and dissolution of…
Shiite majority in Sunni-dominated Nineveh
The December 2023 Nineveh Provincial Council elections saw Shiite dominance for the first time, impacting governance and reconstruction efforts post-ISIS. The Council faces power struggles, and criticisms over representation.
Two decades of “the Sunni Issue” in Iraq… Have the
On the morning of April 9, 2003, the Sunni Arabs in Iraq woke up to a reality they had not played a role in shaping for the first time in their modern history. The scene of American tanks parading through the streets of Baghdad marked the closure of a significant…
The Military Security Institution: 20 Years of Confusion and Construction
Similar to other institutions in Iraq and its key components, the restructured security apparatus, under the leadership of the military governor of Iraq following the invasion, Paul Bremer, experienced fluctuations, uncertainties, and periods of both erosion and occasional progress. This beleaguered institution had already weathered two devastating wars during the…
The Kurdish landscape Rivalry and retreat
On the 20th anniversary of the U.S. invasion and the subsequent downfall of the previous regime, as Iraq entered a new era, it is opportune to evaluate various aspects, notably the shifts within the political representatives of the different components involved in the ongoing transformation. The emergence of this new…
20 Years After the Regime’s Fall, Shiites: The Crisis of
It can be said that the scene of the American invasion of Iraq in 2003 was followed by numerous, stormy, and unsettling changes that manifested in various forms. They affected Iraq, specifically the Shiite scene, which we will discuss in this article. Before 2003, Shiites did not have access to…
Iraq: Two Decades of “Lethal Democracy”
In these days, twenty years ago, American aircraft and its allies dominated the sky of Mesopotamia, while tanks and other strange vehicles advanced toward Iraq to overthrow its president, Saddam Hussein. Back then, missiles soared fueled by the rhetoric of combating terrorism and preemptively defending American and global national security.…
Christians: 20 Years from Exodus to Extinction
Since the initial surge of violence that marked the breakdown of Iraq’s security following the US occupation and the overthrow of the Baath regime on April 9, 2003, religious and ethnic minority groups have faced direct and indirect attacks from armed religious and sectarian factions. These attacks have resulted in…
Patriarchal Societal Mentality or Religion: Who is Behind the Obstruction
Patriarchal societal mindset and religious perspectives hinder the legislation of the “Child Protection” Law in Iraq
Decades of change; women in the grip of patriarchy
Iraqi women grapple with entrenched patriarchy, societal stigma, and legal barriers, hindering their empowerment, representation, and protection from domestic violence, widowhood, and divorce. After each altercation, 21-year-old Rana, a university student from Basra province in southern Iraq, dedicates a considerable amount of time in front of the mirror before heading…
