How did Extremists Take Over one of Iraq’s Biggest Cities in Just Five Days?
inside Mosul: how did extremists take over one of iraq’s biggest cities in just five days? Niqash Mosul From the first suicide bombings to an attack on the next province, it has only taken Sunni Muslim extremists five days to gain control of one of Iraq’s biggest cities and its surrounds. How did it happen? […]
Militants Overrun Iraqi Provincial Government Headquarters, Other Areas in City of Mosul!
By: SAMEER N. YACOUB and ADAM SCHRECK – Associated Press BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraqi police and army forces abandoned their posts in the northern city of Mosul after militants overran the provincial government headquarters and other key buildings, dealing a serious blow to Baghdad’s efforts to control a widening insurgency in the country, a provincial official […]
Transitional Justice Fails in Iraq
Ali Mamouri – Almonitor Transitional justice is an important and decisive phase for societies liberated from a long era of dictatorial or sectarian rule. When transitional justice is not achieved, society will suffer violent chain reactions among the different social groups. In many cases, the relationship between the executioner and the victim is reversed, and the acts […]
Humanitarian Crisis Spreads to Northern Iraq amid Critical Funding Shortages
NCCI, Tuesday, 10 June 2014 For months, NGOs and UN agencies operating in different parts of Iraq have been calling upon the international community to refocus attention towards the overwhelming scale of the humanitarian needs that exist inside the country. The Anbar crisis has for more than six months posed an almost unmanageable burden upon […]
The Most Cancerous Street in Iraq? Locals in Basra Leaving Homes Because of Disease!
Niqash | Saleem al-Wazzan | Basra In the southern city of Zubair, in Basra province, there is one street where the neighbours report more cases of cancer than most. The street is close to former government offices that were bombed by US-led forces in 2003. As a result families have been leaving their homes and […]
Declaration of the Iraqi Coalition for Freedom of Expression
An International Conference on Freedom of Expression in the MENA Region took place in Tunis on 28-30 May 2014, organized by the Italian NGO Un ponte per… A new Iraqi partnership emerged from it — the Iraqi Coalition for Freedom of Expression — that will focus on raising awareness about and taking action on issues […]
Maliki’s call for Unity Conference in Anbar May Be Too Late
Mushreq Abbas : Al-Monitor Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s call on May 28 for holding a conference to resolve the Anbar crisis did not come as a surprise. However, the residents of Anbar felt that this call came late. In his weekly speech, Maliki called on “Anbar tribes and all those who confronted al-Qaeda and […]
Iraq: Government Attacking Fallujah Hospital and Barrel Bombs Hit Residential Areas
Human Rights Watch (Baghdad) – Iraqi government forces battling armed groups in the western province of Anbar since January 2014 have repeatedly struck Fallujah General Hospital with mortar shells and other munitions, Human Rights Watch said today. The recurring strikes on the main hospital, including with direct fire weapons, strongly suggest that Iraqi forces have […]
The Realities of Ilisu Dam in Iraqi Kurdistan
By Toon Bijnens, Save the Tigris Campaign and ICSSI – Sulaymaniya, May 28, 2014 The construction of the Ilisu Dam in South-Eastern Turkey can be described as one of the most pressing current environmental issues for Iraq. Its impact will be mostly felt in the Southern part of the country, located at the downstream […]
All talk, No action: Iraqi Kurdistan’s New Freedom of Information Law Toothless!
Niqash | Erbil Iraqi Kurdistan has a new freedom of information law. Despite being lauded by all local political parties, the law is almost a year old and has barely been used. At a recent meeting, journalists blamed politicians for wording the law in an imprecise way while MPs said the journalists were at fault. […]
When Muslims Renounce their Faith!
Naomi Conrad – Qantara The Islamic faith Fearing ostracism or even death, many former Muslims keep their lack of faith a secret. A German organisation offers support to people who choose to turn their back on Islam for whatever reason. Turning away from Islam? No, she couldn’t discuss the subject now, says Mina Ahadi quietly […]
The U.S. Role in Iraq’s Postelection Politics
Michael Knights – Wahington Institute Washington has rightfully avoided backing a candidate in next week’s elections, but it should still use counterterrorism assistance and other levers to push Baghdad on pluralism and KRG oil revenue sharing during the presumably lengthy transition period. On April 30, the Iraqi public will vote in national parliamentary elections, establishing […]