Iraq Protests: State Violence and The Challenge of Reform

On November 11, 2019, IRIS hosted a roundtable discussion with Simona Foltyn of France 24 English, Faris Kamal Nadhmi of Salahaddin University, and Dr. Renad Mansour of Chatham House and IRIS entitled "Iraq Protests: State Violence & The Challenge of Reform." The event was chaired by IRIS Director Dr. Mac Skelton. To kick off the conversation, Dr. Nadhmi shared the results of surveys conducted among the protestors, analyzing not only motivations for participation but also demographic features of the protestors themselves. Foltyn shared what she has witnessed in Baghdad through her extensive reporting, describing the movement as anti-sectarian and anti-establishment. Dr. Mansour discussed the response of the government towards the demonstrations and the implications for our understanding of the Iraqi state.