IRAQ

BAGHDAD — Amnesty International has warned that a draft law currently under discussion in Iraq’s parliament regarding freedom of expression and peaceful assembly could further shrink civic space, arguing that its passage would pose a direct threat to fundamental rights guaranteed under Iraq’s constitution and international treaties.  The bill is expected…

ANKAWA, Kurdistan Region of Iraq — Under twinkling evening lights and the calm summer air of 30 July 2025, the gardens of the Ankawa Youth Club came alive with color, sculpture, and song as the Directorate General of Syriac Culture and Arts launched the town’s first visual arts festival —…

BAGHDAD — On 30 July 2025, the Surayto Women’s Council visited Advisor to the President of Iraq Dr. Hanaa Emmanuel at the advisory office in the Green Zone in Baghdad. The delegation introduced the Surayto Women’s Conference, its key objectives and outcomes, and its new Council.   Dr. Emmanuel welcomed the…

HASAKAH, North and East Syria — As part of its efforts to enhance the role of Syriac (Chaldean-Assyrian-Aramean) women on both national and community levels, the Surayto Women’s Council (SWC) has conducted a series of official meetings in Syria and Iraq, following the simultaneous convening of its founding conference across…

NOHADRA, Kurdistan Region of Iraq ─ After three consecutive days, the events of the Second Dooreh Festival concluded on Saturday evening in the Barwari Bala area of Nohadra (Duhok) Governorate, Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), amid a large public turnout and festive atmosphere. The festival, which opened on Thursday, 24…

WASHINGTON, D.C. — While Iran’s destabilizing influence in Lebanon, Syria, and other parts of the Middle East has been weakened, its proxies in Iraq remain active, particularly the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF). These Iran-backed militias frequently launch attacks on the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), targeting critical infrastructure and posing…

BAGHDAD — Iraq has witnessed the establishment of its first women’s political party, named the al-Mawadda Party, in an initiative aimed at unifying the efforts of women from various communities and sects, and enhancing their role in political life. The founding conference of the party was held with broad participation…

NOHADRA (DUHOK), Beth Nahrin — Dozens of Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrian community members gathered in the village of Dori in the Barwari Bala area of Nohadra to celebrate the annual Nawsardel Festival. The event coincided with a symbolic 1,500-meter mountain climb to reach Mar Qayum Church, one of the oldest churches in the…

BAGHDAD — The Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrian people in Iraq’s historic region of Beth Nahrain are growing increasingly frustrated with the decades-long pattern of violations against their people, lands, and presence—violations that continue under the watch of the government in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). The latest incident in Ankawa highlights the…

MOSUL, Beth Nahrin — In a decision reflecting Iraq’s growing commitment to cultural preservation and linguistic diversity, the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research has officially approved the establishment of a Syriac Language Department at the University of Mosul. The announcement, issued on July 26, 2025, affirms the inclusion…