Iraq
Preemptive Love Coalition to merge with Search for Common Ground
By Bob Smietana — March 16, 2023
(RNS) — The merger ends a year of uncertainty for the charity, which sees relief work as a form of peacemaking,
Officials: Landslide at Shiite shrine in Iraq kills 8
By Associated Press — August 22, 2022
BAGHDAD (AP) – Iraqi officials say a landslide collapsed the ceiling of a Shiite shrine near the holy city of Karbala, killing at least seven people.
Iraq Shiite cleric behind parliament sit-in steps up demands
By Samya Kullab — August 10, 2022
BAGHDAD (AP) — Al-Sadr's political rivals in the Coordination Framework, an alliance of Iran-backed parties, said earlier that the parliament would have to convene to dissolve itself.
Police break up Muslim gathering in Kashmir, dozens detained
By Associated Press — August 9, 2022
SRINAGAR, India (AP) — Muharram is among the holiest months for Shiites across the world and includes large processions of mourners beating their chests while reciting elegies and chanting slogans to mourn the death of the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson Hussein and 72 companions in the battle of Karbala in present-day Iraq.
Shiite Muslims in Mideast mark solemn holy day of Ashoura
By Mehdi Fattahi — August 8, 2022
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Security forces, particularly in Taliban-run Afghanistan, were on high alert for any violence. In the past, bloody attacks have marred the festival across in the Middle East, as Sunni extremists who view the Shiites as heretics seize on the holy day to target large gatherings of mourners.
Followers of cleric told to withdraw from Iraq’s parliament
By Samya Kullab — August 3, 2022
BAGHDAD (AP) — In a tweet, a representative of cleric Muqtada al-Sadr told the hundreds of loyalists to leave the parliament building in the capital of Baghdad within 72 hours.
Threat of protests, violent escalation stirs fears in Iraq
By Samya Kullab and Qassim Abdul-zahra — August 1, 2022
BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraqi security forces erected concrete barriers ahead of the street protest called for by a political alliance of Iran-backed groups opposed to the followers of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.
EXPLAINER: What’s behind the storming of Iraq’s parliament?
By Qassim Abdul-zahra and Samya Kullab — July 29, 2022
BAGHDAD (AP) - Wednesday's storming of parliament came after al-Sadr's Tehran-backed political rival, former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, nominated a pro-Iran politician to be Iraq's new leader.
Followers of cleric enter Iraqi parliament in show of force
By Ali Abdul-hassan and Samya Kullab — July 28, 2022
BAGHDAD (AP)– Followers of influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr breached Baghdad’s parliament on Wednesday in the largest protest since Iraq's federal elections in October.
Iraqi cleric shows power as thousands attend mass prayer
By Qassim Abdul-zahra — July 18, 2022
BAGHDAD (AP) — The event was among the largest gatherings of al-Sadr’s followers after the U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003.
While focusing on Ukraine, don’t forget the rest of the world
By Thomas Reese — April 26, 2022
(RNS) — Ukraine is one of many connected crises around the world.
The UAE is restoring Christian life in the Persian Gulf
By Knox Thames — February 11, 2022
(RNS) — The tiny gulf nation is supporting religious and cultural restoration to spread tolerance in the Middle East.
White Christian nationalism found fertile soil in post-9/11 America
By Robert P. Jones — September 22, 2021
(RNS) — Since the Bush era, the attitudes of Republicans, including white evangelicals who comprise the party’s base, have increasingly aligned with a worldview rooted in centuries of white supremacist theology.
This tiny minority of Iraqis follows an ancient Gnostic religion – and there’s a chance they could be your neighbors too
By James F. McGrath — June 21, 2021
(The Conversation) — Mandaeans are followers of ancient Gnostic religion, whose traditional homeland was the region of Iraq and Iran. Today, this small minority lives in many parts of the world, including the US.
Zahid Quraishi confirmed as first Muslim federal judge
By Joseph Hammond — June 11, 2021
(RNS) — The US Army veteran has been assigned to a federal district court in New Jersey.
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