In Iraq’s parliamentary elections last October, the Sadrist Movement led by the Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr emerged as the largest bloc with 73 seats. Its closest Shia competitor, the State of Law coalition headed by former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, won 33. Fatah, a broad coalition that comprises several Iran-affiliated outfits operating within the Popular Mobilization Fo
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Key Findings Context, Shocks/Events and Impact of the Crisis As Iraq enters 2022, the humanitarian context is paradoxical and evolving. Many gains and positive developments continue to gain strength, slowly bringing millions previously affected by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and related counter-military operations back towards parity with other Iraqis. Ye
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Iraqis start the second centenary of their history as if they were guests of humanity, as Mahmoud Darwish used to say. One hundred years have passed since the founding of the modern Iraqi state (1921-2021), a zero-harvest centenary for a country that is on the brink of collapse. Iraq faces a host of existential threats, the least dangerous of which is the spectre of corru
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Al-Sistani’s lectures were attended by hundreds of students, many of whom became leading Shiite jurists in the Arab world The grand ayatollah’s outsized persona among Muslims and the world at large will loom large over his successor DUBAI: Besides Pope Francis and the Dalai Lama, few religious leaders today command as much respect among Muslims and non-Muslims alike a
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Many Iraqis are disillusioned with their unaccountable political system, which deprives them of basic services and fundamental standards of living. On October 10, Iraqis head to the polls in their country’s sixth election since regime change in 2003. Despite the promises of democracy, many Iraqis have become disillusioned with their political system, which deprives them of b
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