Iraq News

A new Sky News documentary highlights the ongoing plight of Yazidi women still enslaved by ISIS, nearly a decade after the group's atrocities in Sinjar, Iraq, in 2014. Titled *10 Years of Darkness: ISIS & The Yazidis*, the film, reported by special correspondent Alex Crawford, details the mass abductions and systematic violence faced by the Yazidi community, many of whom remain traumatized and struggling for justice. Through firsthand eyewitness accounts and raw footage from the Middle East, the documentary sheds light on the harrowing stories of those affected, including Kovan, who was abducted at age 14, and Farida Khalaf, a human rights activist whose memoir recounts the brutal attack on her village. Khalaf has since become an international advocate for the Yazidi cause, meeting with world leaders to push for accountability for ISIS crimes. According to Crawford, the documentary reveals that thousands of Yazidi women are still held captive, continuing to suffer from the brutality of their captors. The documentary will be available on Sky News platforms starting May 2.

The Yazidi community in Iraq is experiencing a profound sense of betrayal as the U.S. government halts crucial aid that once supported them, following the 2014 genocide by the Islamic State (IS). During the first Trump administration, significant funding was pledged, benefiting religious minorities, including the Yazidis. However, this support has dwindled under the second Trump administration, according to activists and former USAid employees. In the Iraqi town of Sinjar, where many Yazidis were killed, essential services, including healthcare and infrastructure projects, have stalled due to the freeze in aid. Mirza Dinnayi, a Yazidi human rights activist, expressed shock over the suspension of USAid, labeling it a critical loss for their communities. The aid freeze has also severely impacted charities like Catholic Relief Services, facing potential layoffs and program shutdowns amounting to half of their $1.5 billion budget. This shift reflects broader changes in Republican attitudes toward aid, as former supporters of Yazidi rights now align with movements aiming to diminish USAid. Current and former USAid officials lament the loss of vital support networks for the trauma-affected Yazidi people.

A recent archaeological project in the Iraqi Western Desert has uncovered over 850 artifacts from the Old and Middle Paleolithic eras, including ancient stone hand axes believed to be up to 1.5 million years old. The project, led by archaeologist Ella Egberts and funded by the British Institute for the Study of Iraq, focused on a small area, roughly six by 12 miles, where seven Paleolithic sites were identified. According to Egberts, the excavation of a dried-up lakebed proved particularly fruitful, yielding tools such as hand axes and more sophisticated Levallois flakes, which date back between 300,000 and 50,000 years. “The other sites also deserve equally thorough systematic investigation,” Egberts stated, emphasizing the potential for further discoveries that could enhance the understanding of early human behavior in the region. Research in Iraq has been limited due to regional instability; however, the team successfully navigated challenges, with Egberts noting positive local interactions. The Iraqi State Board of Antiquities and Heritages has expressed support for continued investigations in future efforts.

The Al-Hadba minaret, a significant landmark in Mosul, Iraq, has been restored to its original state, following its destruction during Islamic State (IS) rule in June 2017. The leaning minaret, part of the Al-Nuri Mosque where former IS chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared a "caliphate" in 2014, is now a replica constructed using both original and new bricks. "Al-Hadba is our identity, and by restoring it, the identity of the city has been reclaimed," said Abdullah Mahmoud of Iraq’s antiquities department. UNESCO officials have worked for five years to restore multiple heritage sites in Mosul, including churches and numerous historic homes, after extensive damage from battles against IS left the area in ruins. Despite these efforts, remnants of conflict remain, with many residents yet to return. Local shopkeeper Saad Mohammed expressed hope that the restoration will attract visitors to the city, stating, "Now we feel safe." The reopening of the restored sites is set for the coming weeks, signaling a significant step toward healing and revitalizing the community.

A team of geologists has uncovered that a remnant of the ancient Neotethys oceanic plate is plunging into the mantle beneath the Zagros Mountains in Iraq, causing significant geological changes in the region. The study, published in the journal Solid Earth, reveals that as this plate descends, it is also tearing apart beneath the mountains, relieving some pressure from the overlying crust, according to lead researcher Renas Koshnaw from Göttingen University. The Neotethys ocean existed approximately 195 million years ago when Pangaea split into two supercontinents. Its crust had significant impacts on the formation of the Zagros Mountains, causing a depression filled with sediment between 3,000 to 4,000 meters deep. The research indicates that the unique sediment thickness cannot solely be explained by the weight of the mountains, suggesting that the dynamics between the mantle and crust play a crucial role in shaping the area's topography. Understanding these processes, researchers noted, could also aid in locating natural resources and assessing geological hazards in the region.

Archaeologists recently uncovered over 850 ancient artifacts in the Iraqi Western Desert, including hand axes dating back to as much as 1.5 million years ago. The pilot project, conducted by a team from Vrije University Brussel, identified seven Paleolithic sites within a six by 12-mile area, showcasing early human activity in the region. Lead archaeologist Ella Egberts emphasized the significance of the find, calling it a "huge success." The team focused on one site—a dried-up lakebed that revealed tools such as hand axes and more complex Levallois flakes, dating from 300,000 to 50,000 years ago. Egberts noted that further investigation could uncover similar artifacts from the surrounding sites, providing deeper insights into the evolution and behavior of early humans in the Arabian Peninsula. The research received support from the Iraqi State Board of Antiquities and Heritages, which encourages ongoing exploration of the area's archaeological potential. Preliminary funding has been secured to continue this important work despite previous instability in the region.

The Iraqi parliament has approved a law that allows children as young as nine to marry, prompting widespread outrage among women's rights activists and legal experts. The law, which abolishes a longstanding ban on child marriage established in the 1950s, grants religious authorities the power to oversee family matters, including marriage and divorce. Lawyer Mohammed Juma described the law as the "end of women’s rights and the end of children’s rights in Iraq." Female journalist Saja Hashim expressed fears over the influence of clerics in deciding the fate of women, highlighting the potential for retroactive applications of the law that may affect alimony and custody rights. Despite the law's justification for providing social security, statistics from a 2023 UN survey reveal that 28% of girls in Iraq are married before turning 18, often with negative consequences such as social stigma and limited educational opportunities. The new legislation sets the minimum marriage age at nine for Shia Muslim girls and 15 for Sunni girls, raising concerns about the implications for young female welfare. Critics argue that rather than strengthening protections against underage marriage, the law effectively institutionalizes it according to the prevailing religious laws. Alia Nassif, a member of the parliament's legal committee, announced plans to challenge the law in federal court, arguing that the vote was held without the required quorum of lawmakers present. Activist Benin Elias stated the need to combat such "barbaric decisions," calling for immediate action rather than despair.

The Iraqi parliament has enacted a law permitting marriages as young as nine years old, sparking widespread outrage among women's rights advocates and human rights organizations. The legislation, passed on January 21, 2025, delegates authority to religious leaders to govern family matters, including marriage and divorce, effectively lifting a ban on child marriages that had been in place since the 1950s. Critics argue that this law will undermine the rights of women and children, with lawyer Mohammed Juma stating, "We have reached the end of women’s rights and the end of children’s rights in Iraq." The new ruling allows religious sects to set the minimum age for marriage, which for Shia Muslim girls is notably lowered to just nine years, while Sunni girls can marry at 15. Activists express fear that the new law could be retroactively applied, impacting existing cases related to alimony and custody disputes. Raya Faiq, from the feminist group Coalition 188, reported emotional testimonies from women concerned about their children's futures under this new legal framework. According to a 2023 UN report, approximately 28% of girls in Iraq are married before reaching 18, with many entering these unions as a means to escape poverty, often resulting in a cycle of social stigma and limited opportunities due to interrupted education. Opponents of the law have indicated plans to challenge its passage in federal court, citing a lack of quorum during the voting process. Observers continue to voice fears about the implications of prioritizing religious authority over legal protections for women and minors in Iraq.

In a controversial move, the Iraqi parliament has passed a law allowing child marriages for girls as young as nine years old. The law, which received approval yesterday, grants religious authorities the power to oversee family matters, including marriage and divorce, effectively reversing a ban on the marriage of minors that had been in place since the 1950s. Opponents of the law, including women’s rights groups and legal experts, have expressed outrage, warning that it could lead to an increase in child marriages and effectively “legalize child rape.” Prominent lawyer Mohammed Juma stated, "We have reached the end of women’s rights and the end of children’s rights in Iraq." Child marriage has been a persistent issue in Iraq, with recent UN surveys indicating that approximately 28% of girls are married before their 18th birthday. Activists fear the new legislation will apply retroactively to existing court cases, further jeopardizing the rights of women and children regarding alimony and custody. The decision has drawn widespread condemnation, with critics asserting that it places the fates of women and children in the hands of clerics, raising concerns about the erosion of women's rights in the country. Independent MP Sajjad Salem remarked on the detrimental impact this law could have on Iraq's reputation. Additionally, Alia Nassif, a member of the parliament’s legal committee, has announced plans to challenge the law in the federal court, citing procedural concerns regarding the vote. As demonstrations and protests erupt across Iraq, activists continue to emphasize the need for stronger protections for women and children rather than laws that enable underage marriages.

For the first time, UK investigators have actively participated in the arrest of suspected human traffickers in Iraq. Officials from the National Crime Agency (NCA) collaborated with local security forces to apprehend three men believed to be involved in trafficking up to 1,000 migrants from the Kurdish Region of Iraq (KRI). The suspects are reportedly linked to Amanj Hassan Zada, a Britain-based smuggler who was sentenced to 17 years in prison in November for his involvement in smuggling operations. NCA director-general of operations, Rob Jones, emphasized the significance of this operation, stating that it stems from evidence collected during investigations in the UK. The suspects have been charged and will face trial in KRI, where it is believed their operations were based. Among those arrested, one individual is alleged to have managed financial transactions using the informal Hawala banking system, a method commonly utilized in Islamic cultures for untraceable money transfers. Another suspect is accused of orchestrating the transport of migrants on various yachts, while the third organized groups of migrants preparing for travel. The NCA has followed the trail from Zada's activities in Preston, England, all the way to the KRI, showcasing the international scope of this criminal network. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper remarked on the operation's success, which aligns with the UK government's strategy to combat human trafficking and dismantle smuggling networks exploiting desperate individuals. As part of its ongoing efforts, the UK government has increased funding to the NCA to enhance operations against human traffickers. In the past year, the agency has arrested 227 suspects and is currently investigating 70 people smuggling gangs.