Human Rights Watch - "Protesters Beaten, Abducted"
Iraqi security forces have repeatedly beaten and violently dispersed protesters during anti-corruption demonstrations since August 2015 without any apparent justification, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a statement on Friday: In some instances, unidentified men in civilian clothes abducted and beat demonstrators. Prosecutors have failed to respond to judicial complaints lodged by victims of these […]
Video: Iraq Mulls Russian Support Against IS
From Al Jazeera. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Russia's intervention in Syria is changing the face of the conflict. And there are calls for it to get involved in Iraq too. The Iraqi Prime Minister's coalition partners are complaining that U.S.-led […]
IDPs make up 35% of KRI Population
By John Lee. Rudaw quotes an official as saying that internally displaced persons (IDPs) now make up 35 percent of the population of the Kurdistan region. In a public meeting with Peter Maurer, the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Aram Sheikh Mohammed (pictured), the Iraqi parliament deputy speaker, said: “According […]
Iraqi Kurdistan's Brewing Crisis
By Mahmut Bozarslan for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Demonstrations turned violent earlier this month as thousands of people protested the dire economic situation in Iraqi Kurdistan, with many demanding that Massoud Barzani (pictured) step down as regional president. Developments that brought the […]
Iraqi Doctors Plagued by Threats, Extortion
By Adnan Abu Zeed for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Doctors in Iraq are fleeing threats on their lives and extortion attempts, adding even more danger to a country battling the Islamic State (IS). In the news and on social media, pictures are surfacing […]
Video: Journalists Persevere under Threat in Iraq
From Al Jazeera. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Iraq has long had the poorest record in the world for failing to prosecute the killers of journalists. A recent report says it's not the worst offender any more - but it's still […]
Protests 'Cost Sulaymaniyah About $1bn'
By John Lee. The Kurdistan Region’s Syndicate of Investors [Kurdistan Investors Union] has said that recent violent protests in Sulaymaniyah have cost the province $1 billion. Spokesperson Mala Yasin Mahmoud told BasNews that many strategic projects have been cancelled and foreign investors are leaving because of the protests. “At least 15% of the foreign investments […]
Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Programs
The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad has announced the open application period for the Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Programs (IYLEP). The deadline to apply is December 1, 2015. IYLEP 2016 will provide 240 Iraqi high school and undergraduate students with a unique educational exchange experience in the summer of 2016. The IYLEP undergraduate and high school […]
Can Iraq meet US, Russia halfway?
By Mustafa al-Kadhimi for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. The conflicts in Iraq and Syria are becoming increasingly convoluted by the day. Russia's engagement has been an additional complication to the overlapping battles. This international interference is undoubtedly a major challenge to the […]
Video: Eight of Ten Women Sexually Harassed in Iraq
From Al Jazeera. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. A survey carried out in Iraq suggests around eight out of ten women have suffered some form of sexual harassment. And an increasing number of professional women are experiencing harassment in public spaces. […]
IMF may offer Major Loan to Iraq
By John Lee. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) may provide a large loan to Iraq to help stabilize the country's finances, a senior IMF official has told Reuters. Masood Ahmed (pictured), Director of the IMF's Middle East and Central Asia Department, said an IMF team will discuss with Iraqi officials early next month how to […]
Khudairi Group adds Hertz Equipment Franchise
Hertz Global Holdings has announced that Hertz Equipment Rental Corporation (HERC) has entered into a franchise agreement with the Khudairi Group for the exclusive license to provide rental equipment in Iraq using the "Hertz Equipment" brand and proprietary system. This move will significantly add to HERC's existing network in the Middle East, with HERC Iraq […]