زكي رضا

The article argues that corruption in Iraq cannot be credibly addressed through official statements, arrest warrants or secret settlements. Because Islamic parties dominate key state institutions and invoke religious values such as justice, trustworthiness and accountability, the author says they should support publicly broadcast, fair trials for those accused of embezzling public funds. Secret proceedings or political deals would deepen citizens’ belief that corrupt officials are above the law and that the government is itself constrained by corrupt political bargains. Public trials before an independent judiciary are presented as the first genuine test of the prime minister’s commitment to breaking the relationship between state power and corrupt actors.

Argues that combating corruption requires state institutions rather than citizen reporting, stressing that major corruption is hidden in financial assets and government dealings beyond public reach. Emphasizes the need for political will, independent investigative committees, and transparent disclosure of officials’ wealth. Criticizes the prime minister for placing responsibility on citizens and highlights the role of patronage and power-sharing systems in enabling corruption. Calls for equal application of the law and for the government to reclaim accountability to restore public trust.

Failure in Iraqi governance is portrayed as systemic, allowing previously unsuccessful or corrupt leaders such as Nouri al-Maliki to return to political prominence without accountability. The piece argues that the consociational power‑sharing system promotes loyalty and patronage over performance, enabling the recycling of ineffective political figures and preventing genuine reform. It warns that unless the current political structure is dismantled and accountability enforced, Iraq will remain trapped in a cycle of dysfunction dominated by entrenched elites rather than strategic, competent leadership.

U.S. actions in Venezuela, including sanctions, asset seizures, attacks, and the alleged kidnapping of President Maduro, are framed as clear violations of international law enabled by American power rather than legal legitimacy. The global reaction reveals a divided international community and exposes weaknesses in international institutions, particularly the UN Security Council. The article warns that U.S. precedents in Venezuela could justify similar actions by other powers, citing China and Taiwan, and could destabilize regions such as the Arctic and the Middle East. The author argues that these developments signal a shift toward a chaotic global order driven by force rather than law.

The text argues that religious authorities in Iraq have transformed from spiritual institutions into powerful economic entities enriched through state-sanctioned land grants and untaxed commercial projects. It highlights the lack of transparency, absence of regulatory oversight, and the state's complicity in enabling these financial empires while public services deteriorate. The piece warns that religious institutions use sanctity to shield corruption and suppress criticism, urging Iraqi voters to choose a secular, law-based state in upcoming elections to prevent further exploitation of religious authority for political and financial gain.

Describes widespread distrust in Iraq’s political process due to unfulfilled electoral promises, corruption and clientelist voting behaviors, arguing that electoral programs have become empty slogans disconnected from citizens’ needs. Highlights the structural problems of sectarian loyalty, poverty and lack of political awareness that enable corrupt parties to retain power. Calls for reformist forces to present achievable programs focused on essential services and to engage voters through strong media outreach and transparent debates. Draws a comparison to Egyptian expressions of stalled progress, portraying Iraq’s political cycle as a repetitive, unresolved tale.

Presents Kamel Shayaa as an exemplary Iraqi organic intellectual who returned from exile to stand with society against authoritarianism, sectarianism, and corruption. Highlights the dangers faced by intellectuals confronting oppressive power structures, comparing Shayaa’s experience with other Arab thinkers assassinated for their views. Frames his life and writing as a commitment to collective responsibility, cultural critique, and political truth in a context marked by violence, state failure, and competing power groups.

Argues that Iraq’s elections lack integrity due to entrenched corruption, foreign influence and a judiciary aligned with ruling parties. Highlights Iranian political intervention through pre‑election visits and pressure on Islamic parties, likening candidate disqualifications to mechanisms used by Iran’s Guardian Council. Concludes that the upcoming Iraqi elections operate under Iranian-style controls rather than democratic standards.

Calls for transforming the killing of physician Ban Ziyad into a catalyst for a nationwide movement against systemic violence and discrimination toward women in Iraq. Links her case to the impact of Mahsa Amini’s death in Iran, arguing that mass mobilization, international pressure and sustained public activism are essential to challenge religious‑tribal power structures, expose perpetrators, and push for protective legislation and accountability for crimes against women.

The text argues that contemporary Iraqi society exhibits forms of modern slavery driven by political corruption, religious authority, tribal power structures, economic collapse, and widespread social exploitation. It compares Western and Islamic historical attitudes toward slavery, highlights the persistence of forced labor, child labor, and coercive social practices, and asserts that Iraq has moved beyond modern slavery into deeper forms of societal subjugation. The author contends that liberation requires a social uprising to dismantle entrenched religious and political elites, establish institutions based on justice rather than sectarianism or tribalism, and reverse the decline caused by corruption and authoritarian control.

Contrasts Kuwait’s recent reforms raising the minimum marriage age and abolishing leniency for so‑called honor crimes with efforts by Iraq’s Shia political establishment to lower marriage ages and reshape personal status laws along sectarian lines. Highlights Kuwait’s alignment with international human rights standards while criticizing Iraq’s political and judicial institutions for undermining women’s rights and eroding the country’s legal heritage.

Iraq’s prolonged crises are attributed to systemic corruption, failed governance, and the dominance of sectarian power structures. Political elites, militias and religious institutions are portrayed as entrenched beneficiaries of a system that deepens poverty and weakens state institutions while exploiting oil revenues. The persistence of patronage, lack of democratic accountability and manipulation of social divisions prevent meaningful change. The text argues that solutions cannot come from current ruling factions and instead calls for awakening public awareness and enabling popular participation to build a more democratic and functioning state.

Baathist rule in Iraq is portrayed as a brutal and destructive period marked by repression, war and economic collapse, culminating in the 2003 U.S. invasion that many Iraqis initially hoped would bring democratic change. Sectarian governance, corruption, armed militias and foreign influence are described as preventing the emergence of a functional state, enabling former Baathists to reappear in political discussions. The commentary argues that eliminating the possibility of Baathist return requires dismantling militias, combating corruption and enforcing laws banning extremist and sectarian political entities.

Events since October have weakened Iran’s regional project, with Hamas, Hezbollah, Syria and Yemen suffering major losses under Israeli and Western pressure. Iraq remains Iran’s last strong foothold, but internal weakness, corruption, armed militias and social fragmentation place it at risk of becoming a battleground for regional powers. The article warns that U.S. and Israeli strategies aim to further constrain Iran and calls on Iraqi leaders to act urgently to distance the country from regional conflicts, strengthen state institutions, disarm militias and pursue democratic reforms to avoid future instability.

Iraq remains among the world’s most corrupt countries despite joining international and regional anti‑corruption agreements, with systemic graft rooted in political patronage, weak governance and the absence of accountability. Widespread bribery, deteriorating public services, economic mismanagement and massive unexplained losses of state funds underscore the depth of the crisis. Comparisons to effective foreign models, including China’s aggressive anti‑corruption campaign, highlight the gap between Iraq’s rhetoric and actual enforcement. Meaningful reform is depicted as impossible without a national political shift, strong judicial independence and a broad public movement capable of confronting entrenched elites who benefit from the existing system.

Criticism is directed at the Iraqi prime minister’s assertion that decisions of war and peace lie solely with the state, arguing that real power rests with tribal leaders and armed factions operating outside government authority. The commentary highlights constitutional guarantees of free expression to justify challenging state rhetoric, stressing that militias exert decisive control over security and political decisions while benefiting from state resources. It warns that unchecked militia actions risk worsening regional instability and urges the government to reassert constitutional power by curbing armed groups and reducing tribal influence to restore state authority and credibility.

Warns that proposed amendments to Iraq’s personal status law would legalize child marriage, undermine women’s rights, and deepen sectarian power bargaining. Accuses major political blocs of trading votes to pass the law in exchange for releasing extremists, jeopardizing societal stability and exploiting vulnerable communities. Urges public pressure and international engagement to prevent the legislation’s approval and protect children’s rights under international commitments.

The text warns that Iraq’s current political and social landscape—dominated by sectarian political Islam, armed factions, and religious authority—creates conditions favorable for the rise of a fascist system. It argues that declining public awareness, economic crises, the use of religion for political control, the suppression of civil liberties, and external regional influences strengthen authoritarian trends. Drawing historical parallels with European and Latin American fascist experiences, it emphasizes the urgency for democratic forces and civil society to resist these developments through public awareness, activism, and efforts to reform the sectarian power structure.

The proposed amendment to Iraq’s 1959 Personal Status Law is criticized for undermining constitutional protections, enabling sectarian divisions, and allowing religious authorities to formalize child and infant marriages. The text argues that divergent interpretations among Islamic sects would create legal chaos and harm family integrity while empowering clerics over civil institutions. It warns that legalizing such practices would endanger children, particularly girls, and calls on democratic forces, women’s groups, and civil society to resist efforts by political and religious actors to impose regressive norms.

Warnings escalate over increasing threats from militias and religious–tribal power networks seeking control of Baghdad’s Al-Mutanabbi Street through intimidation, forced fees, and rigged property auctions. Bookstore owners face extortion as authorities allegedly enable these groups, raising fears the historic cultural hub could be overtaken by commercial developments. Calls intensify to halt recurring government auctions and defend what remains of Iraq’s cultural life from systemic erosion driven by sectarian and rural political dominance.

The growing power of Iraqi militias aligned with Iran is described as a direct threat to state authority, economic stability, and citizens’ safety. These groups are portrayed as exploiting weak institutions, controlling revenue sources, and expanding political and military influence while operating outside legal oversight. A recent armed incident in Baghdad’s Karrada district illustrates the risks posed by heavily armed militia members acting independently. The text argues that restoring state authority and dismantling the militias is essential to prevent future internal conflict and protect Iraqi citizens.