Six years after the Tishreen uprising shook Iraq’s political establishment, the popular struggle for reform continues. In October 2021, EPIC published The Long Game, a groundbreaking study on the birth of this movement. Today, as Iraqis prepare to head to the polls on November 11th, we are proud to release our latest report, which answers […]
Month: October 2025
ISHM: October 23 – 30, 2025
Key Takeaways: POLITICS: IHEC Disqualifies More Candidates; PMF Personnel to Participate in Special Voting – On October 29, Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) announced that special voting for Iraqi security and military personnel will take place on November 9, two days before the general elections. More than 1.3 million people from various security agencies […]
NEW REPORT: Finding a Solution to Iraq’s Water Crisis
Our new report opens on a farm near Halabja, where researcher Winthrop Rodgers watched farmer Khasraw Mohammed turn on the pump to his 16-meter well. Within minutes, the clear water turned cloudy brown. The well was dry, sucking up mud. “It’s disastrous for us,” Khasraw said. His story is becoming heartbreakingly common. Iraq is grappling with its […]
Six Things You Need to Know About Iraq’s Upcoming Elections
By Ahmed Ali On November 11, Iraq heads to the polls for its sixth parliamentary election in two decades. This vote will take place at a pivotal moment: regional tensions are high, the political system remains fragile, yet the country enjoys a level of domestic security not seen in years. The elections will decide whether […]
ISHM: October 16 – 23, 2025
Key Takeaways: POLITICS: Trump Appoints Special Envoy for Iraq; Rubio Urges Sudani to Disarm Militias – On October 19, President Trump announced the appointment of a new special envoy for Iraq. The envoy, Mark Savaya, is a Detroit-based cannabis businessman of Iraqi Chaldean origin who had been active in supporting Trump’s election campaign in Michigan. […]
ISHM: October 9 – 16, 2025
Key Takeaways: POLITICS: Treasury Sanctions PMF-Controlled Al-Muhandis Company; Sudani Supports Trump’s Gaza Plan – On October 9, 2025, the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned a group of Iraqi companies and individuals suspected of aiding Iran’s efforts to evade sanctions, smuggle weapons, and exploit Iraq’s economy. Treasury said OFAC’s action targets financial […]
ISHM: October 2 – 9, 2025
Key Takeaways: POLITICS: IHEC Disqualifies More Candidates Days After Certification; Activist Faces Prison After Criticizing PM, Minister – On October 6, Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) disqualified several prominent candidates from running in the November election, just days after it had certified eligible candidates and given them the green light to launch their campaigns. […]
ISHM: September 25 – October 2, 2025
Key Takeaways: POLITICS: Sudani Visits UAE to Discuss Energy, Transportation Cooperation; IHEC Finalizes Candidate Lists for the November Election – On October 1, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani arrived in Abu Dhabi for talks with UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed focused on developing bilateral relations in trade, energy, and transportation, including cooperation on implementing Iraq’s […]