Women Nowhere is Like Your Own Country — One Day in Afghanistan — Reporting by Sima Siawash, edited by Mohammad Jawad Alizada and Brian Conley DAIKUNDI — It’s 8 in the morning, when Ms. Zarifa Ekhtiyari begins her work day in a 3 by 5 meter room. This small space is her workstation, but it is also home to
Education Taliban Order Boys’ Schools to Reopen, No Word on Girls Written by Mohammad Jawad Alizada, edited by Brian Conley Taliban’s Ministry of Education on Friday announced that male-only schools, as well as madrassas for boys can reopen as of Saturday, the start of the week in Afghanistan, but did not mention anything about girls schools. According to the statement
Journalism Featured Rockets Return to Kabul Written by (reporters name withheld for their safety), edited by Mohammad Jawad Alizada & Brian Conley KABUL — Since the Taliban’s takeover, everyone in Kabul is scared, but when there’s a rocket attack, a reporter has to investigate. On my way to Shahrak-e-Tilayi, the area where the rockets were
Women Twitter Fashion Show Defies Taliban Written by Mohammad Jawad Alizada, edited by Brian Conley Reno, US — Afghans across the globe have taken to Twitter for a hashtag fashion show, displaying vibrant and colorful cultural dresses in protest of Taliban’s introduction of new dress code for women following their takeover of Afghanistan in mid-August. A
Human Rights Featured Every Death Leaves Someone Behind Written by Mohammad Jawad Alizada with reporting by our team in Afghanistan, edited by Brian Conley KABUL — “Najibullah died after falling in the canal outside Abbey gate, his friends could not take him out of the area due to the chaos following the blast,” his brother Irfanullah Safai told Alive
Iraq Ashura, a Sign of the Times Produced by Nabeel Kamal BAGHDAD, IRAQ– The Day of Ashura, which commemorates the slaying of Hussein ibn Ali, is one of the holiest days in Shiite Islam. Each year, millions of Shi’a pilgrims gather at shrines in Iraq to mourn the loss of Imam Husayn, a hero of Islam
Iraq Still No Electricity Surge Produced by Ali Al-Le'abiy BAGHDAD, IRAQ–The electricity is the second greatest concern for the Iraqi people after security. Iraqis have suffered from a lack of electricity before the war and have been angry to see it continue after. The excuse most often given by Saddam’s regime
Iraq 100 Years Later, Iraq Railroad Still Runs Produced by Nabeel Kamal BAGHDAD, IRAQ– The railroad in Iraq has a long history of wars and occupations, in the 1920s the railroads tracks were used by the British forces for transporting military supplies from London to Baghdad during the British occupation and it was well known with the name
Iraq Sahwa, What Next After Al-Qa'eda? Produced by Nabeel Kamal BAGHDAD, IRAQ–The Sahwa Councils or what are also known as “Sahwa Forces” had a strong impact and important role in bringing stability to some areas of Iraq such as Anbar province, Ramadi, Fallujah, and some other areas in Baghdad. Those forces were created after Sattar
Iraq Iraqi Professors Demand Rights Produced by Ali Al-Le'abiy BAGHDAD, IRAQ–University professors are considered by many to be the leaders of Iraqi society. The professor was experiencing many dangers, such as death threats, car bombs, and gangs. Despite all these conditions many professors continued going everyday to their universities, transferring education, culture,
Iraq How Do Young Iraqis Spend Their Free Time? Produced by Ali Al-Le'abiy BAGHDAD, IRAQ– The education system in Iraq is well known as one of the best education systems in the Arab lands, most scientific departments give lectures to the students in English, for example in the medical departments most of the books are imported from
Iraq Baghdad Security Plan Burdens Residents Produced by Ali Al-Le'abiy and Nabeel Kamal BAGHDAD, IRAQ– The ongoing fighting in Baghdad pushed the Iraqi and US forces to establish checkpoints all over the city to secure the roads and neighborhoods. Controlling the cars inside the city and preventing them from distributing weapons or bombs was
Iraq Iraqi Children Fight on All Sides Produced by Nabeel Kamal IRAQ– Many towns around Al-Anbar and Baghdad Provinces as well as others have witnessed the creation of Al-Sahwa Councils. The aim of this force is to protect the people living in these areas and to force Al-Qaeda out of their areas by working side by side
Iraq In Syria, Gay Iraqis Seek a New Life Produced by Hayder Fahad SYRIA– Even though most gay people of Iraq have managed to live their lives, being born gay is almost the same as being born with an assurance of death. Most Iraqis don’t accept that homosexuality is something you’re born with, or which is assigned
Iraq After Al-Qa'eda, Life Returns to Hawr Rajab Produced by Nabeel Kamal HAWR RAJAB, IRAQ– Civilians told horror stories of being afraid to leave their homes for fear of retribution. According to one member of the Sahwa, those who smoked regularly could have their fingers amputated or their tongue burned. Many other residents, Sunni and Shi’a alike,
Iraq Baghdad Walls Divide Neighbors, Friends Produced by Nabeel Kamal BAGHDAD, IRAQ– In order to reduce the rate of violence between the Ghazaliya neighborhood and the Shu’la neighborhood, the Iraqi Government and Coalition Forces built a wall to separate these two neighborhoods. The Iraqi Government initially opposed construction of the walls, but later relented when
Iraq Basra Celebrates Ramadan with Security Produced by Nabeel Kamal BASRA, IRAQ– Basra is one of the oldest cities in the Middle East, and it was well known as the city of knowledge and the city of poems, and that city was invaded several times and each time after a short while its residents returned to
Iraq Goldsmiths Still at Work in Baghdad Produced by Nabeel Kamal BAGHDAD, IRAQ– The primary markets in Baghdad for gold are Share’a Al-Nahr and Al-Khadimyia and those two markets consider by some to be the oldest in the world because since the Abbasid Dynasty these markets existed for the sale of gold and jewelry. Shara’a
Iraq A Tour with Basra's Border Police and Marines Produced by Nabeel Kamal BASRA, IRAQ– As the British military prepares the handover of security of the entire Basra Province to the Iraqi Security Forces, a new focus is being placed on Iraq’s southernmost region. Nabeel Kamal traveled there to interview Basra’s Marines, Navy, and other security forces
Iraq Hospital Guards, More than Protectors Produced by Nabeel Kamal BAGHDAD, IRAQ– The Facility Protection Service has been the center of much controversy in recent years. We have profiled the bizarre security agency previously on Alive in Baghdad, interviewing a Sunni FPS guard who works in Adhamiya. Although at least some of the accusations against various
Iraq Baghdad Checkpoints and the Iraq Surge Produced by (Reporters name withheld for safety) BAGHDAD, IRAQ– On Tuesday General David Petraeus will be testifying before the U.S. Congress, and President George W. Bush will reportedly address the nation about the situation in Iraq. This week we continue to evaluate the progress of the surge over the
Iraq Baghdad is Like Grand Theft Auto Produced by Omar Abdullah BAGHDAD–Living in an war zone and spending much of your day under curfew means you’ll end up with a lot of time on your hands. Many young people in Baghdad end up doing what others their age all over the world do, and that’
AiB_archive Marwan Speaks about Kidnapping, part 2 Editor's Note: see Part 1 here. Last week you heard the details of the events surrounding Marwan Ghassan’s kidnapping. As we said then, this is the second most upsetting news a media organization can receive.The first being of a correspondent’s death. This week Marwan provides
Iraq Marwan Speaks about Kidnapping Aside from death, abduction of a correspondent is just about the last thing anyone involved in a media organization wants to hear. On July 23rd, that is exactly what happened. Kidnappings have now become routine in Baghdad. Luckily Marwan was released approximately three days after his kidnapping. Unfortunately when Marwan
Iraq Another Rocket in Baghdad Produced by Omar Abdullah BAGHDAD–Mortar and rocket attacks have become more and more common in Baghdad. They have even started to seem like the weapon of choice in the growing conflict between Iraq’s militias. Today’s story is the second such event Alive in Baghdad has reported on
