By Adnan Abu Zeed for Al Monitor. Any opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. There are strong indications that Gulf states want to keep Iraq away from Iran's influence by including Iraq under the banner of a US-backed Sunni Arab alliance. The […]
Tag Archives | Shia
Following Video Leak, Minorities address Hate Speech
By Saad Salloum for Al Monitor. Any opinions here are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Following controversial video leak, Iraq minorities seek to address hate speech In undated footage that leaked earlier this month, head of the Shiite Endowment Alaa Abd al-Sahib al-Musawi is heard […]
Muqtada al-Sadr Presents his Political Successor
By Omar Sattar for Al Monitor. Any opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Iraq's firebrand Shiite cleric presents his political successor In a meeting with the ministers of defense and interior in Muqtada al-Sadr's Najaf office May 3, Sadr's nephew Ahmed al-Sadr […]
Shiite Trio Competes for Power in Iraq
By Ammar Alsawad for Al Monitor. Any opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. On Feb. 28, hundreds of pro-Sadrist university students in Kut attacked Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's procession with stones and water bottles. Abadi's security forces fired tear gas and live […]
Has US found a New Friend in Iraq's Shiite Militias?
By Ali Mamouri for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. On March 12, US Consul General Steve Walker visited Al-Sadr Teaching Hospital in Basra to pay his respects to wounded members of the Popular Mobilization Units. The visit marked the first time […]
Video: Is Muqtada al-Sadr fueling Shia Infighting?
From Al Jazeera. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Iraq's Shia cleric Muqtada al Sadr is putting pressure on Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to carry out reforms to fight corruption. Sadr has managed to rally a huge number of angry Iraqi protesters […]
Why is Iraq Challenging Human Rights Reports?
By Mustafa Saadoun for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Human Rights Watch (HRW) issued a report Jan. 31 about the abduction and murder of dozens of Sunnis living in a town in the center of Iraq. “Members of [Shiite] militias, who […]
Video: Sunni Civilians 'Under Threat' in Diyala
From Al Jazeera. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. In eastern Iraq, Sunni civilians are fearing revenge attacks from Shia militias following a suicide bombing by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant group. The targets were senior members of a […]
Video: Can Govt Stem Rising Sectarianism?
From Al Jazeera. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Iraq's top Shia cleric Ali al Sistani has called on the government to curb the activities of armed groups. At least seven Sunni mosques were bombed in eastern Iraq earlier this week, allegedly […]
Sunnis, Shiites show Unity in Najaf
By Wassim Bassem for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. For displaced Iraqi citizen Saad al-Jabouri, this year’s Ramadan has been a good one. He left Kirkuk with his family of four on July 20, 2014. They were generously welcomed in the city of […]
Iraqis Demand Better Security for Pilgrims
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. On May 15, the Shiite Endowment issued a statement that in one week, around 12 million Shiite visitors flew to Baghdad’s Kadhimiya district to commemorate the death of Imam Musa al-Kadhim, who died in […]
Security for Shiites Causes Controversy
By Shukur Khilkhal for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Over the last 10 years, traveling merchant Hussein Alwan and his seven-member family never missed celebrating any Shiite religious occasion. They visited Najaf, Karbala and Samarra several times, and on May 12 they made a […]