Abdulla Shakir Mahmood

I can no longer remain silent about the state of my country. Iraq today is a nation held hostage by corruption, militias, sectarian politics, and theocratic influence. Ordinary citizens live under constant fear — from terrorism, from armed factions, from government failures, and from laws that strip women and children of their rights. The state, which should protect its people, instead serves the interests of elites, militias, and foreign powers. The endless cycle of violence from ISIS attacks to militia assassinations shows that Iraqi institutions are incapable of guaranteeing security. Families live in terror, children are targeted, and women are harassed, forced into marriage, and silenced. Legal reforms, like the Personal Status Law amendments, codify discrimination against women. Corruption siphons billions of dollars from public funds meant for education, healthcare, and infrastructure. State property is stolen, public resources are mismanaged, and elites escape accountability. Iraq has become a country where law, justice, and human rights exist in name only, while religion, sectarianism, and armed factions dominate daily life. The influence of Iran-aligned militias and sectarian politics has turned Iraq into a theater for foreign agendas, putting every citizen at risk. I refuse to accept this reality. I stand for a secular, accountable, and just Iraq, where the law protects citizens equally, women and children are empowered, and armed militias have no place in governance. Iraq must break free from sectarian chains and foreign influence. Public institutions must serve the people — not enrich the powerful or enforce religious dogma. I call for change, and I demand it now. Iraq’s future depends on courageous citizens who speak truth to power, reject corruption and violence, and fight for a secular state where safety, freedom, and justice are not privileges but guaranteed rights. I will not remain silent, and neither should anyone who believes in an Iraq that belongs to its people, not to militias, clerics, or corrupt politicians.