By John Lee. The United Nations Assistance Mission to Iraq (UNAMI) has said it is concerned by the decision of the Bnaslawa Misdemeanour Court in Erbil on 19th August 2025 to sentence journalist Mr. Shirwan Shirwani to four and a half years imprisonment on a charge that he denies. It said in a statement: "UNAMI's […]
From Human Rights Watch (HRW). Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Iraq: Damage to Kurdistan Region Oil Fields Puts Rights at Risk Drone strikes on five oil fields in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) by unknown groups between July 14 and […]
By Shilan Fuad Hussain, for the London School of Economics (LSE) Middle East Centre. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Battling the 'Patriarchal Trifecta': Women in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and Their Battle for Self-Agency In the Kurdistan Region of Iraq […]
From the Lutheran World Federation (LWF): The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) has addressed the UN Human Rights Council highlighting key women's rights issues during the council's session that reviewed the human rights situation in Iraq. Iraq has made progress by setting up new shelters, hotline services, and public campaigns addressing violence against women and girls. […]
By John Lee. UK-based NGO Oxfam has published a new report titled, "The Private Sphere Trap -- Women and the climate crisis in Iraq." The report argues: "Women in Iraq are traditionally limited to only taking leading roles in spaces that have customarily been seen as their responsibility, such as care provision, raising children, and […]
By John Lee. Ireland's Tánaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Harris, has confirmed the release on bail of Robert Pether, an Australian engineer resident in Ireland, who has been imprisoned in Iraq since 2021. The announcement comes following a phone call from Iraq's Foreign Minister, Fuad Hussein, who personally informed the […]
By John Lee. According to Amnesty International, Iraq witnessed a significant increase in executions in 2024, with at least 63 known executions, up from 16 in 2023 -- the highest number recorded since 2019. All executions involved individuals convicted of terrorism-related offences, amid ongoing concerns about violations of fair trial rights and reports of torture […]
From Human Rights Watch (HRW). Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Iraq: Personal Status Law Amendment Sets Back Women's Rights After months of legal and political wrangling, an amendment to Iraq's Personal Status Law that entered into force on February 17, 2025, […]
From the UNDP: UNDP's Report Signal Progress in Prosecutions, Stronger Convictions, and the Need for Continued Justice Reform The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with Iraq's Supreme Judicial Council and with the generous support of the European Union, launched the Second Trial Monitoring Report, a comprehensive view of Iraq's progress in tackling high-level […]
By John Lee. Front Line Defenders, an international NGO based in Ireland with special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC), has prepared a report on human rights in Iraq. The report is prepared for the 46th session of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), overseen […]
By John Lee. Iraq's Ministry of Communications has confirmed the decision to block access to the IMDb movie database, citing what it says is its promotion of "inappropriate and unethical" content. Nabil Abdul Baqi, General Manager of the Al-Salam State Company [Peace Company], a government body under the control of the Communications Ministry, stated that […]
By Osama Gharizi, for the United States Institute of Peace (USIP). Any opinions expressed here are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Iraq's Lingering ISIS Challenge and the Role of Dialogue in Return and Reintegration KEY TAKEAWAYS: Thousands of people with perceived ISIS affiliation are being […]
