— By Scott Douglas Jacobsen Scott Douglas Jacobsen: What is the status of religion in Iraq? Karrar Al Asfoor: Religion controls every aspect of life in Iraq, from the simple cashier in a small shop to the largest governmental organization to my house, to the children playing in the streets, to the cafe talks, whatever you… Read more »
By Scott Douglas Jacobsen There is an increase in the quality of outcomes based on reportage about Afghanistan. For the last 15 years, Afghanistan has made progress in the health outcomes for its citizenry. This is “especially for women and children,” even in spite of the insecurity well-known in the country. The basis for the… Read more »
By Scott Douglas Jacobsen Al-Monitor reported on the arrests sent out for Iraqis charged with the crime of atheism. The charges come through the Dhi Qar province Garraf district judiciary. Atheism as a crime gained lots of social media attention. Some argue this is against the rights of the Iraqis. The Iraqi Constitution guarantees freedom of… Read more »
By Scott Douglas Jacobsen Houzan Mahmoud is the Co-Founder of Culture Project. She is a women’s rights activist, campaigner, and defender, and a feminist. She is a friend and colleague, too. In this wide-ranging and exclusive interview, Mahmoud discusses the Kurds, Iraq, women’s rights, and more. Scott Douglas Jacobsen: You are a women’s rights… Read more »
After the recent Islamic State (also known as ISIL, ISIS and Daesh) attacks in Paris, France’s atheist President François Hollande was quick to vow to destroy the jihadist caliphate (full French transcript here) by forming “une grande et unique coalition”. France also launched heavy air strikes on Raqqa, the capital of the Islamic State, and… Read more »
Iraq’s chronic disease of sectarianism has flared up again with the blood-soaked advance of ISIS (“Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham”, meaning Iraq and the Levant) and allied Sunni groups, who have seized the major city of Mosul and a number of other towns in the past few days. The Shiites, understandably alarmed, are mustering… Read more »