Dying waters: Climate change forces Iraq’s marsh families into urban struggle

Once thriving on the rich ecosystems of Iraq’s southern marshes, families like that of Naji Arhim have been uprooted by severe drought and water shortages. Generations of fishermen and buffalo herders have seen their lands turn to dust, pushing them into cities where their traditional skills no longer apply.

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Critics say free speech under attack in Iraq's Anbar province

As elections approach, activists, civil servants, and tribal leaders in Iraq’s Anbar province report arrests, forced transfers, and online surveillance of citizens criticizing the ruling Taqaddum party.

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After years of tribal conflicts, Dhi Qar sees decline in violence

After years of tribal conflicts, Iraq’s Dhi Qar province has seen a sharp decline in violence, with only 25 disputes recorded in early 2025 compared to 158 in 2023.

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Iraq’s provincial councils face criticism after 2023 return

Since their reinstatement in 2023, Iraq’s provincial councils have failed to deliver meaningful results, instead becoming scenes of political conflict, legal disputes, and public frustration.

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Gold mines in Iran’s Kurdish regions: Between riches and sorrows

The gold-rich Kurdish regions of western Iran grapple with the serious environmental and health consequences arising from mining the precious commodity, launching a campaign to stop the drilling which has seen elevated instances of cancer and the destruction of local flora and fauna.

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Afro-Iraqis confront legacy of slavery, discrimination in modern Basra

Afro-Iraqis, long marginalized despite deep roots in Basra’s history, are at the center of a national debate after a controversial decision to allocate land exclusively to dark-skinned citizens. Critics call the move politically motivated and racially divisive, while activists recall centuries of systemic exclusion, from slavery under the Abbasids to modern political invisibility.

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From high-profile snubs to early leavers: Baghdad's disastrous summit

After nearly six months of preparations and millions of dollars spent, the Arab League summit hosted in Baghdad, and hailed by Iraqi authorities ended in disaster with only five of over 20 Arab head of states, and none but one from Gulf states, attending.

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Killed kolbar’s family decry lack of accountability

“What was my son carrying? Was he carrying narcotics? Was he carrying smuggled weapons?” asked Arman's mother

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Turkey-PKK peace process: Its influence on Iranian Kurds

In light of the historic Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) decision to end its armed campaign against the Turkish state, Kurds in Iran seek to ascertain the peace process' implications for their own situation within a country that has long denied them any degree of autonomy.

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