Iraq's democracy at a crossroads: The systematic exclusion of political opponents

A wave of disqualifications by Iraq's electoral body in the run up to November's parliamentary elections threatens to undermine democracy in the country, with political exclusions and crackdowns on opposition figures threatening increased disillusionment with conventional politics among the Iraqi populace.

Alfadhel Ahmad

Opinion

Battle of Lalezar: Cousins' feud takes toll on Kurdistan's culture capital

Once tranquil Sulaimani streets recently became the frontlines of a bitter feud between cousins Bafel Talabani and Lahur Sheikh Jangi, with the violent confrontation proving worrisome for a city hailed as a bastion of free expression and civil liberties

Dilan Sirwan

Opinion

Doctor Ban and Iraq's judiciary: A crisis of confidence

The death of Dr. Ban Ziyad Tariq in Basra  has turned into a major public debate, raising doubts about the independence of Iraq’s judiciary. While the Supreme Judicial Council expressed regret over rumors surrounding the case, many Iraqis believe the doctor was killed, not that she took her own life.

Ahmed Saadawi

Opinion

Shaping perceptions, building nationhood: Kurdistan's public diplomacy

In an increasingly globalized and interconnected world, public diplomacy offers a key avenue for Kurds to shape public opinion abroad to bolster international support for the Kurdish cause, with such mechanisms allowing budding states and non-state actors to punch above their weight on the global stage.

Soran Naqishbandy

Opinion

Israel and Iran: A war that refuses to end

Far from being stilled by their large-scale clash in mid-June, Iran-Israel tensions remain conspicuous and foreboding, with the risks of a further military confrontation raising questions about the future of the Iranian government and Israel's strategic calculus in the region.

Mohammed A. Salih

Opinion

When transitional justice becomes an electoral weapon: An assault on Iraqi democracy

Originally conceived as a tool of historical justice and national reconciliation, Iraq's Accountability and Justice Commission has devolved into an instrument of political exclusion, being wielded by those in power to maintain a stranglehold on the Iraqi political sphere.

Muhi al-Ansary

Opinion

Erbil fuel station tragedy: A warning sign of what economic strain can ignite

The tragedy at the fuel station should serve as a warning, not only to prevent further violence but to address the root causes that make such flashpoints possible

Mohammedali Yaseen Taha

Opinion

Iraq’s PMF law risks a US-Iraq showdown

Baghdad has come under heavy US pressure to shutter a bill that would see the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), long seen by Washington as a pro-Iran proxy network, further institutionalized into Iraq's official security apparatus, raising the prospect of icier relations between the two states.

Mohammed A. Salih

Opinion

Knowing Iraq's power structure is knowing the depth of its policies

The current state of the Kurdish situation in Iraq is deeply shaped by the centrality of the militia in Iraqi politics and the ascendance of a Shiite elite in the post-2012 period, with it being essential to understand the structural dynamics at play to grasp what the future holds for the country's heterogeneous political make-up.

Hassan Ahmad Mustafa

Opinion

Blood in Suwayda: How Sharaa is further alienating Syria’s minorities

After scenes of insipid violence during clashes between Druze and Bedouin fighters in the country's south, Syria grapples with increasingly wary and disenfranchised minorities, the exigences of its Sunni majority, and extensive foreign involvement that present salient doubts about the country's future stability under President Ahmed al-Sharaa's leadership.

Mohammed A. Salih

Opinion