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Enabling Peace in Iraq Center

ISHM: OCTOBER 10 – OCTOBER 17, 2019

Key Takeaways: Sistani Gives Government Two Weeks To Investigate Violence Against Protesters; Former PM Calls For Early Elections; Security Officials Say Militia Commander Ordered Snipers To Target Protesters – On October 11, Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani blamed the Iraqi government for the violence and numerous deaths during the recent demonstrations in Baghdad and other provinces and gave Iraqi leaders two weeks to conduct an investigation into the bloodshed and publicize its findings. On October 12, Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi formed a commission to investigate the deaths of over 110 protesters in recent demonstrations. On October 14, former Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi called for new elections under UN supervision as a means to address Iraq’s political crisis. On October 17, two Iraqi security officials revealed details about the role of Iran-backed militias in using sniper fire to kill Iraqi civilians during anti-government demonstrations last week. The officials said the orders to use

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EPIC UPDATES

Reflecting on 2018, Gearing up for 2019

As we prepare to welcome the new year, we thought we would take the time to reflect on the progress Iraq has made over the past year and our work to support Iraq’s recovery. In Ramadi, Mosul, Sinjar, and other areas recovering from war, four million Iraqis have returned to their homes as families begin the hard work of rebuilding their lives. At the same time, another two million Iraqis remain displaced, unable to return to their homes and ancestral lands due to the scale of destruction, the presence of explosive remnants of war, and the fear of armed militias

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Recent Analysis

Five Years after ISIS: The Yazidis’ Struggle for Justice and Recovery

Interview with Ido Babasheikh, Former Member of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq Parliament and former adviser to the president of Iraq. This is the second of a series of interviews we had with representatives of various minority communities in Ninewa that will be published in the following weeks. In July, EPIC traveled to Iraq and visited Erbil and Ninewa provinces as part of our work on Safe Return, a USAID project designed to enable the safe and sustainable return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their homes in Ninewa. While in Erbil, we had the pleasure of meeting with Mr.

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CHECKING IRANIAN POWER IN IRAQ

Originally published on War on the Rocks – October 3, 2019 Iraq faces a threat of Iranian subversion that is, to a large extent, a function of a deepening geopolitical rift in which Iran stands on one side and the United States, Israel, and Saudi Arabia are on the other. To protect its own interests and avoid falling prey to Iran’s apparent desire to become the regional hegemon and assimilate Middle Eastern capitals into its sphere of influence, Iraqi leaders would be wise to chart these waters carefully. They need to defend and strengthen institutions at home, check the rogue

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Iraq’s Assyrian Christians’ struggle to secure political rights

Interview with Yacoob Yaco, the deputy secretary general of the Assyrian Democratic Movement. This is the first of a series of interviews we had with representatives of various minority communities in Ninewa that will be published in the following weeks. In July, EPIC traveled to Iraq and visited Erbil and Ninewa provinces as part of our work on Safe Return, a USAID project designed to enable the safe and sustainable return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their homes in Ninewa. While in Erbil, we had the pleasure of meeting with Mr. Yacoob Yaco, the Deputy Secretary General of the

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Our Latest Podcasts
Iraq Matters Podcast
EPIC

#37: The Iran-Iraq War and Its Enduring Impact on the Region

Podcast (iraqmatters): Play in new window | Download (Duration: 59:28 — 54.4MB)

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This week marks the 39th anniversary of Iraq’s invasion of Iran’s southwestern Khuzestan Province, starting the Iran-Iraq War. On this episode of IRAQ MATTERS, we talk with Joel Wing of “Musings on Iraq” and EPIC’s very own Omar Al-Nidawi about that war and its lasting consequences on the Middle East today.

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Iraq Matters Podcast
EPIC

#36: Basra’s Water Crisis

Podcast (iraqmatters): Play in new window | Download (Duration: 33:18 — 48.2MB)

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Protests have become a seasonal phenomenon in Basra province, southern Iraq. To date, Baghdad’s change of regime has made little difference for Basra’s 4.5 million mostly Shia Muslim residents who are frustrated with government corruption and shortages of electricity, clean water, and employment opportunities.

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Iraq Matters Podcast
EPIC

#35: Mosul’s Recovery: A Dream Deferred

Podcast (iraqmatters): Play in new window | Download (Duration: 49:33 — 72.2MB)

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On this edition of IRAQ MATTERS, Rasha Al-Aqeedi, a native of Mosul and an acclaimed Iraq analyst, discusses Mosul’s 3 years under ISIS, ongoing challenges to the city’s security and recovery, the role of young people and civil society in the fight against intolerance, and Ninewa’s central importance for enabling peace in Iraq.

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What We Are Doing to Help

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Enhance Understanding

We enhance understanding so that Iraq’s story can be shared and understood in the United States and around the world.

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Soccer Salam

An innovative initiative delivering hope and the joy of play to children and families recovering from violence in Iraq.

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Safe Return

A restorative program to support victims of severe human rights abuses in Ninewa seeking to safely return home.