BAGHDAD – “Arenas of Liberation“ The legal researcher Faiza Babakhan criticized the government’s decision to vote on the draft of Jaafari personal status law and submit it to the parliament, saying that it establishes an ethnic sectarian country that divide Iraq to more than ten states. Bapakhan added in a lecture she delivered in the […]
Authorities turn their sights on journalists
Reporters Without Borders Reporters Without Borders is extremely concerned about the growing hostility that the Iraqi authorities are displaying towards critical journalists. One of latest violations of freedom of information is a warrant for the arrest of Awn Al-Khashlok, the head of Baghdadia TV, and Anwar Al-Hamdani, the host of the station’s “Ninth Studio” programme, […]
Iraqi Unions call for a Fair Labor Law and Trade Union Law!
The Iraqi Parliament is working on a weak Labor Law and a Trade Union Law that does not respect the right of workers to organize in the public sector! BAGHDAD – March 2014 The General Federation of Iraqi Workers (GFIW), Federation of Workers Councils and Unions in Iraq (FWCUI), General Federation of Workers and Unions […]
Shiite leader retires: what next for the millions in the sadrist movement?
Baghdad – Niqash After Iraqi cleric Muqtada al-Sadr announced his retirement from politics this week, there were many questions being asked. Firstly, why was he going? What would happen to his followers, some of whom are in political office? What did it mean for the elections? And what was going to happen to associated militias – […]
The International Day of Action for Rivers By Toon Bijnens, ICSSI and Save the Tigris and the Iraqi Marshes Campaign On 14 March the annual International Day of Action for Rivers was celebrated all over the world. This day coincided with the second anniversary of the Save the Tigris campaign, which was founded in 2012. […]
Why are so many Kurdish women setting themselves on fire?
The Economist by M.G and J.H.Y. | SULAYMANIYAH ON MARCH 8th, while the world celebrated International Women’s Day to recognise progress in women’s rights, two women in Iraqi Kurdistan set themselves on fire. Self-immolation as a dramatic and deadly form of protest by women is known across the Middle East, from Egypt to Pakistan. But […]
Don’t Legalize Marriage for 9-Year-Olds
by HRW :Draft Law Huge Step Back for Women, Girls (Baghdad) – Iraq’s Council of Ministers should withdraw a new draft Personal Status Law and ensure that Iraq’s legal framework protects women and girls in line with its international obligations. The pending legislation would restrict women’s rights in matters of inheritance and parental and other […]
African Iraqis: Seeking for Political Representation
Niqash – Basra Over a million African Iraqis live in the country. Yet unlike other ethnic groups, they are not recognised as a legitimate minority, nor are they represented in Parliament. Despite some politicians’ protests that there is no racism in Iraq and that affirmative action is not necessary, activists in the area are hoping that […]
The Iraqi Presidential Guards Killed A Journalist In Baghdad
Security guards or militia? A statement by the Press Freedom Advocacy Association Baghdad, 22th of March, 2014 The Press Freedom Advocacy Association believes that the execution of the Director of “Radio Free Iraq”, our colleague Mohamed Bedaiwi al-Shammari, by an officer of the Iraqi presidential guard, reflects total disregard of institutions for the protection of […]
A group of Basra activists celebrates the World Water Day at the Corniche of Shatt Al-Arab
Demands to establish a cell of crisis to face “Ilisu” dam Basra – March 2014 A group of civil activists in Basra, celebrated the World Water Day, on the 22 of March. activists shed light on Iraq’s water problems in general, and the water crisis in Basra in particular. They expressed their concerns over the […]
Iraqi Justice Minister Presses Shiite Personal Status Law!
Source: Al-monitor With great persistence, Iraqi Justice Minister Hassan al-Shammari has kept pushing the controversial Jaafari personal status law to the forefront. He succeeded in passing the bill in the council of ministers and sent it to parliament, amid rejection by Iraqi civil forces. It is only natural that the law became associated with the justice minister and the Virtue Party to which […]
EU expresses support for Iraqi, Syrian civil society
The international community has tried various approaches to confront ethnic conflict in the Middle East. International bodies have usually contented themselves with just issuing statements when a human rights violation occurs, and sometimes have supported specific political parties against others. They have focused on vulnerable groups such as minorities, while their positions often neglect members […]