Iraq after 2003: The Voices of Iraqi Women

(Photo: Firdos Square twenty years later)

On this day, twenty years ago, Saddam Hussein’s statue was brought down in Firdos Square, marking the beginning of the U.S.-led occupation of Iraq. This event changed the entire trajectory of Iraq and reshaped the country in numerous seen and unseen ways.

The 20th anniversary of the Iraq War has invited reflections, and represents an opportunity to not only look back, but to also look forward. We are happy to see the voices of Iraqi analysts, academics and activists take centre stage in so many of these events both inside Iraq and internationally.

To meet this opportunity, we wanted to also ensure a space for Iraqi women (in Iraq and in the diaspora) specifically to share their reflections and their work on all things Iraqi life, society, politics, development, history and culture, focusing on the changes since 2003 and on their outlooks and ideas for what the next 20 years may bring.

This series will be published on Iraqi Thoughts weekly for the coming months. Each Sunday, we will share the reflection and expertise of an Iraqi woman. We are excited to share this series with you.

From the series editors Yasmin Chilmeran and Marsin Alshamary

Essays:

An Account from East to West: Storytelling and the Politics of Identity – Reaam Mahbuba

The Struggle of Young Iraqi Women for Political Participation – Nour Alhuda Saad

A Twenty Year Retrospective on the Iraqi Women’s Movement – Yasmin Chilmeran

The False Promise of Humanitarianism in Iraq – Mariam Al-Nuaimi

In Search of a Madani State in Iraq – Marsin Alshamary

The Invisible War: Domestic Violence and Its Impact on Iraqi Women – Mays Al-Ramadhani

The Gender Dimensions of the Climate Crisis in Iraq – Zeinab Shuker

The Enduring Challenges of Women’s Economic Participation in Iraq – Maryam Sryoka

The Ongoing Politicization of the Iraqi Artist – Joumana Altallal

Amidst Conflict and Conservatism: Iraqi Women’s Access to Education After 2003 – Rasha Al-Tameemi

The Art of Archiving Crises: Displacement in Iraq – Mariam Hassoun

We are not ‘Iraq’s Minorities’: Assyrians 20 Years Post-Invasion – Mariam Georgis

Trauma and Stigma: The Mental Health Crisis 20 Years On – Raghad Kasim