Youth Extortion

Former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has returned to the political spotlight after being nominated for a third term as Prime Minister, backed by the Shiite Coordination Framework, a move that has ignited sharp political and public divisions amid an ongoing power struggle

Armed militias have begun openly calling for volunteers, raising fears of renewed militarisation, lawlessness, and the erosion of state authority at a time when the country is already grappling with political and economic strain

Iraq was rocked by public outrage and criticism after the tortured and mutilated body of Ziad Tariq al‑Bazi — a 24‑year‑old Sunni man from Samarra — was found by local authorities following his abduction near a security interaction point. The case has intensified concerns over militia brutality and a lack of accountability in parts of the country still grappling with sectarian tensions.

A young Iraqi activist was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in the southern city of Nasiriyah, in a killing that has reignited fears of militia-linked violence targeting youth and dissenting voices.

Six years after the massive Tishreen (October) protest movement erupted across Iraq, demanding jobs, services and an end to corruption, many young activists continue to live in fear of violence, arrest, harassment and disappearances

A middle school student was tragically shot dead in a tribal revenge attack in Iraq’s southern province of Basra, in a killing that has horrified local communities and highlighted the persistent threat of tribal violence targeting youth outside the justice system.