BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraqi authorities have begun treating motorcycles as a mobile threat, imposing strict restrictions on them that reach the point of bans and arbitrary crackdowns, while motorcycle owners see themselves as victims of unfair decisions, trapped on the roads as if guilty until proven innocent.

Inside the corridors of the Neurosurgery Hospital, a familiar scene repeats daily: young men lying on beds, their heads bandaged, some between life and death due to motorcycle and auto rickshaw (tuk-tuk) accidents. In just one month, the hospital received 54 head injuries, ranging from brain hemorrhages and severe skull fractures to minor injuries.

The hospital director, Dr. Samir Hamid al-Dalfi, confirmed that some cases were so critical that they required admission to intensive care, while others underwent delicate surgeries to save them from the severe consequences of violent accidents. As for those with minor injuries, they were transferred to other hospitals for further treatment, given the presence of multiple injuries across their bodies.

These numbers are not just statistics but tragic stories that repeat every day on the streets of Baghdad, where motorcycles and tuk-tuks have become part of the equation of danger. Young riders, seeking speed and adventure, show reckless disregard for consequences. Moreover, red traffic lights have become “optional” for many motorcyclists, who see them as an unnecessary detail in the scene of traffic chaos. This behavior increases the likelihood of serious accidents, especially at vital intersections or in high-traffic streets.

Additionally, riding against traffic, particularly in narrow alleys or side roads, and using sidewalks and tight passageways as exclusive motorcycle lanes, creates further risks, especially for pedestrians and the elderly.

Beyond the traffic chaos, motorcyclists' failure to adhere to personal protective measures, such as helmets, gloves, knee guards, and specialized jackets, makes even minor accidents fatal or leads to severe injuries to the head and spine. In these incidents, wounds and fractures are directly exposed to the rough asphalt, increasing the severity of injuries.

The motorcycle phantom

Motorcycles have various sinister aspects, not only are they a health hazard, but they also serve as a flexible tool for carrying out thefts, armed robberies, and fraud in public streets.

Haj Abdul Qadir Ahmed, a 74-year-old retired health sector employee, shares his experience.

“I used to go to collect my pension from a bank located in a neighboring area. However, reaching the withdrawal window required walking a long distance through narrow, semi-abandoned alleys. During those times, I noticed a group of teenagers riding two motorcycles. They couldn’t have been older than 18, circling the area repeatedly, closely watching me and other elderly people, tracking our steps with precision,” he told The New Region.

“I sensed they had intentions of theft, but I ignored my instincts, not wanting to misjudge them. Then came the day they attacked me, stole my pension by force, and threatened to run me over if I tried to scream or call for help. They vanished before my eyes in an instant, leaving me in shock as I returned home, struggling to process what had happened.”

Ghaidaa Saad, a 22-year-old pharmacy student in Baghdad, recounted a traumatizing experience on New Year’s Eve 2025.

“I have come to hate the sight of motorcycles roaming the streets. They have become a nightmare that follows me everywhere,” she said

“I was robbed in a public park by a motorcyclist whose identity remains unknown. I cannot recall anything about his features because he wore a scarf over his face to conceal himself. He snatched my handbag and knocked me to the ground.”

“My bag contained an iPhone 15 Pro Max, a gold necklace, and 400 Iraqi dinars. In that moment, I remained silent, I didn’t even have time to react. His skill in theft and speed in escaping made it seem as if he had been doing this for years.”

Traffic authority enforces its grip

There are reportedly over 250,000 motorcycles in Baghdad, many of which are not officially registered. Although the stringent security measures imposed on motorcycles aim to curb crime and protect public safety, they have sparked widespread controversy among civilians, especially among owners of numbered and licensed motorcycles who feel unfairly targeted.

For the authorities, these measures are not arbitrary but a direct response to the increasing use of motorcycles in illegal activities. However, many law-abiding motorcyclists find themselves restricted by these harsh regulations despite adhering to the law, raising questions about the fairness and effectiveness of these measures in controlling crime without unfairly burdening innocent citizens.

Colonel Haider Shaker, director of the media division at the general traffic directorate, told The New Region that the strict regulations imposed on motorcycle users in Baghdad are based on Traffic Law No. 8 of 2019, which mandates that all motorcycle owners officially register their vehicles with the directorate.

Shaker explained that these measures were not implemented arbitrarily but as a response to rising security challenges.

The lack of official registration has often led to the use of motorcycles for serious crimes such as murder, theft, armed robbery, and smuggling contraband, leading them to be classified as tools frequently involved in criminal activities.

“The primary goal of these measures is to regulate motorcycle movement and ensure their use within legal frameworks. Official registration makes it easier to track them for security purposes and prevents their involvement in unlawful activities,” Shaker added.

He emphasized that the directorate continues its efforts to monitor unregistered motorcycles, assuring that those who comply with regulations will not face any harassment, whereas unlicensed motorcycles or those operated in a manner that threatens public safety will be dealt with firmly.

The small wheels mafia

This seemingly simple mode of transportation provides criminals with strategic advantages that make their pursuit extremely difficult. This has led security authorities to approach the issue with extreme caution, even with numbered and licensed motorcycles.

The key lies in their speed, maneuverability, and difficulty in tracking. Motorcycles allow criminals to execute their operations within seconds and escape through narrow alleys and streets, making their capture nearly impossible.

Many security operations have failed to apprehend offenders due to their use of dark helmets that completely conceal their identities, as well as their reliance on unregistered or stolen motorcycles, further complicating law enforcement efforts.

In recent years, political assassination attempts and the targeting of activists have been carried out using motorcycles, with criminals relying on silencers to fire shots before quickly fleeing, leaving no physical evidence behind.

However, the issue extends beyond assassinations—motorcycles have played a key role in drug trafficking and the transportation of illicit funds. Smugglers use them to transfer goods and large sums of money through alleys and border areas, taking advantage of their ability to bypass security checkpoints with ease.

Waad al-Qadr, member of the parliament’s security and defense committee, warned of the growing danger posed by motorcycles in Iraq, stating that authorities still lack a clear strategy to address this issue, leading to severe traffic and security chaos.

Qadr said, “More than fifteen years ago, I introduced the term 'traffic terrorism.' Today, we see that the number of victims killed in motorcycle-related traffic accidents exceeds the number of casualties from some terrorist operations in past years. This alarming reality requires serious governmental intervention to put an end to this phenomenon.”

He pointed out that the absence of a strategic vision from the relevant ministries, particularly the Ministry of Construction and Housing, has worsened the crisis. Ideally, there should be a well-developed road network, proper paving, clear traffic signals, speed-monitoring radars, and strict surveillance systems. He also stressed the need to enforce a system of fines to deter reckless and unlawful use of these vehicles, as such measures would have a direct impact on reducing fatal accidents.

Regarding the regulation of motorcycle proliferation, Qadr called for stricter control and a reduction in imports by increasing customs tariffs on motorcycles. He noted that the Ministry of Interior, the General Customs Authority, and the Ministries of Finance and Trade must develop clear mechanisms to curb their uncontrolled spread, rather than leaving the situation unregulated, which has resulted in widespread chaos.

He emphasized that, “The solution does not lie solely in restricting motorcycle imports but also in implementing internal regulatory measures. These should include mandatory official registration of all motorcycles to facilitate security tracking and prevent their use in crimes, enforcing strict laws requiring riders to wear helmets to ensure public safety and reduce fatalities, designating special lanes for motorcycles in urban areas to prevent traffic congestion and disorder, and banning motorcycles from entering sensitive areas in the capital and other major provinces to limit their use in crimes and suspicious activities.”

Qadr held the Ministry of Interior primarily responsible for this issue, criticizing what he described as “confusion and lack of clarity” in its policies regarding motorcycle regulation. He noted that these shortcomings have led to public frustration, especially among low-income individuals who rely on motorcycles for their livelihood.

He concluded by saying, “If all motorcycles are officially registered, we can significantly reduce their use in assassinations, thefts, and other crimes. However, if the chaos continues and no restrictions are placed on their access to certain areas, this will mark a clear failure of the Ministry of Interior in handling this matter.”

Systematic targeting

Amid the crowded streets of Baghdad, motorcycles have become a constant target of security restrictions, even for those who possess official documents and abide by the law. Ali Haider, a motorcycle delivery driver, struggles with these measures and feels targeted simply because he rides a motorcycle, despite having all the required paperwork.

“At every checkpoint, I encounter different treatment, but the common denominator is the harsh approach, as if I am a suspect who must prove his innocence. They try to find any loophole against me, but they can’t, because all my documents are in order,” said Haider.

“The bigger issue is the prevailing perception of motorcycle riders, especially delivery workers. Some security officers assume we are drug users or alcoholics just because some riders put political or religious slogans on their motorcycles or listen to sectarian songs that might provoke checkpoint personnel,” he added.

Ali recounts how security measures have shifted from controlling violators to imposing collective restrictions on all motorcycle riders.

He recalls a recent incident, “I was riding my motorcycle in the Karrada area with my brother sitting behind me. Suddenly, security officers stopped me and confiscated my motorcycle just because I was carrying a passenger. I had to pay a fine of 25,000 dinars to get it back, and if my motorcycle had not been registered, the fine would have been 50,000.”

But the problem doesn’t stop at fines, it extends to the attitude of some security officers, as Ali insists that some deliberately provoke motorcycle riders or look for any minor violation to penalize them.

“Some officers seem to take pleasure in seeing piles of confiscated motorcycles, searching for any excuse to seize them or detain their owners. That’s why I have become more cautious and always try to stay calm and composed when dealing with them.”

Although authorities justify these measures as necessary to curb crimes committed using motorcycles, riders feel that collective punishment has become the norm, even for those who follow the law. Caught between a suspicious security gaze and escalating restrictions, motorcycle riders remain stuck between a livelihood they cannot abandon and measures that turn every trip through Baghdad’s streets into a new test of patience and endurance.

Who is the victim… Who is involved?

Security expert Safaa al-Asam, in an exclusive statement to The New Region, said, “Just two weeks ago, we witnessed a smuggling operation involving over one million dollars using eight motorcycles, turning the road into a secret bank transfer route. This incident highlights the extent to which motorcycles are exploited in illegal activities.”

He stressed that regulating the issue of motorcycles has become an urgent security necessity, explaining that young people working in the delivery sector, who operate professionally, possess official identification, and are registered with security authorities—do not pose a threat. However, the continued unrestricted sale and use of motorcycles without strict oversight creates a dangerous security vacuum.

Asam added that the problem is not with motorcycles themselves but with how they are acquired and used. There must be an official mechanism for purchasing them through the state so that they are not readily available to just anyone.

He concluded by emphasizing that addressing this issue requires strict decisions to limit the spread of unlicensed motorcycles, along with tight security monitoring of their use to prevent them from becoming a mobile tool for crime.

On the other hand, strategic expert Dr. Ahmed al-Sharifi stressed that law enforcement has a legitimate right to ensure preventive security, but he warned against treating all motorcycle riders as suspects, arguing that such an approach could disrupt justice and lead to the misuse of authority.

Sharifi stated, “There is no doubt that motorcycles have become a preferred tool for many assassination operations. However, it is equally important to distinguish between violators who use them illegally and those who rely on them for legitimate livelihoods.”

He added, “It is necessary to implement precise precautionary measures that identify motorcycle users and the nature of their activities, rather than treating everyone as a potential threat.”

Sharifi affirmed that security agencies have full authority to adopt specialized preventive security measures, particularly in combating assassinations and illicit activities. However, he cautioned that hastily generalizing suspicion toward all motorcycle riders could create social tensions and deepen mistrust between citizens and law enforcement authorities.

He concluded by saying, “Security concerns are valid, but they should not translate into collective punishment for anyone who rides a motorcycle. Security measures must be both precise and fair at the same time.”

As part of this investigation, we attempted to reach the Ministry of Interior’s office for an official statement on their stance regarding this issue. However, the office did not respond to our inquiries, and no official comment was provided at the time of publishing this report. This raises the pressing question: Do the relevant authorities have a clear strategy to address this phenomenon, or will ambiguity and mismanagement continue to define this issue?