On Mar. 22, Iraqi women’s organisation, Tadhamun, hosted an event of talks and creative performances, to celebrate 10 years since the organisation was established. 

The overarching theme of the night was life “Away from Home”, as event’s title captures, in solidarity with Iraqi, Palestinian and Tunisian women that — due to no fault of their own — have lived outside of their homelands. 

This matter of fact, as each speaker uncovered, can occur abruptly — or overnight — in times of war, revolutionary upheaval and occupation. 

Peeling back the multilayers of identity in a variety of contexts, the event addressed the complex relationship generations of Arab women in diaspora have with their ‘homeland’ — al Watan.

Held at P21 gallery, London, the night was moderated by former associate foreign editor of the Guardian, Victoria Brittain, and saw contributions from author Dr. Dora Carpenter-Latiri, independent journalist Nazli Tarzi, Palestinian poet Fajir Tamimi, Oud player Francesco Iannuzzelli, and Tadhamun’s very own Zainab Khan, and in her absence, May Mudhafar’s poem — “From that Distant Land” — was also performed.

On June 15, The Foreign Relations Bureau-Iraq hosted its first public event titled: 'Middle East States and Non-State Actors: Iran, Iraq, Syria'. The discussions generated throughout the day focused on the political dynamics in Iraq and neighbouring countries.
 
Dr. Bianka Speidl, spoke of the ways in which low-intensity conflicts are being exported to Europe, from Iraq. Her paper centred on the materialisation of the Sunni-Shia divide, and the rise of sectarian entrepreneurs embedded within religious, transnational networks.
 
Mr. Michael Clark delivered a presentation that places the government's handling of the Islamic State under scrutinizing light. The question his paper poses is an important but often forgotten one: 'to what extent can we speak of a 'Sh'i response' to IS? Engaging with the debate about the current government fight against terror, Clark's talk revisited the sub-state actors involved in the battles wages since Sistani's 2014 Fatwa enabled the formation of Iraq’s Popular mobilization Forces (PMF) un-picking their loyalties and ambitions. 
 
The final panel, which included presentations from Dr. Cengis Gunes, and Dr. Muhanad Seloom, focused on the movement and future of Kurds in Iran. Bteween them, they placed the question into historical context, to forecast the future of Kurds in Iran.

London-based women’s organization, Tadhamun (Solidarity) on May. 14 hosted an event on Iraq’s internal displacement crisis. Keynote speakers covered a range of topics and surveyed the consequences of this invisible phenomenon. Growing numbers of displaced Iraqis forced out of neighbourhoods, transformed into battle zones in the fight against the Islamic State (IS), offers only a simplified story about what’s been happening.  Forced dispossession, urban cleansing, and expulsion are all problems that precede  IS, as speakers uncovered. 
 
Since Anglo-American forces invaded in 2003, 3 million Iraqis were made homeless. This figure does not account for the estimated 3.5 million that have resettled abroad. Pushed out of their country by different hardships, these people today form part of Iraq’s ever-expanding diaspora.
 
Professor Mundhir Al Adhami offered a historical timeline of displacement trends since 2003, and how the strengthened position of militias in the wake of the invasion, exacerbated the matter with unsanctioned armed groups acting as law enforcement entities.
 
Dr. Yasin Al Eethawi discussed changing migration and settlement patterns. Vigilante militias, and those absorbed by the state’s security apparatus have not only been targeting communities due to their religious orientation. One is easily hunted down for the political views he or she may hold. This has prompted the movement of some Shi’i Iraqis to Sunni inhabited areas. The other side of the coin, Eethawi explained, is the migration of Sunni Iraqis from IS held terrains to geographic locations they are granted access to.

Mike Phipps uncovered evidence of corruption within humanitarian circles, due to their relations with media donors, governmental and private agencies —  working to advance a common agenda. Phipps dissected these relations, underscoring the politicisation of welfare to serve political agendas.
 
Retired Iraqi Consultant Microbiologist, Dr. Firyal Ahmad spoke about the multitude of refugee camp experiences, focusing on Ebil-based encampments, in northern Kurdish controlled Iraq. Firyal highlighted the fiscal obstacles in the way of alleviating Iraq’s IDP crisis, and the shortfall of funds from international humanitarian donors. 
 
Joanne Baker from "Child Victims of War" organization touched upon the effects of war — material and psychological — on children, refugees within the borders of their home country. Baker presented some jaw-dropping results on both children and families. Without adequate food, resources and funds, and identification papers, the simplest daily tasks, are complicated for refugees and those supporting them.
 
Adding to Baker’s comments, former guardian journalist, Victoria Brittain commented on the importance of formulating an inclusive plan with clear steps of how to begin containing the crisis. 
 
Ending the night was renowned Iraqi author, Haifa Zangana, tying these developments back to events in 2003.
Haifa gave a breakdown of actors and stakeholders involved, who are working to further erase an common iraqi identity through their inability to act. 
 
Haifa concluded the event with a quote from Czech-French writer, Milan Kundera:
The first step in liquidating a people is to erase its memory. Destroy its books, its culture, its history. Then have somebody write new books, manufacture a new culture, invent a new history. Before long that nation will begin to forget what it is and what it was...​

In November 2015, Iraq-focused documentary, "Whose Peace will it Be?" travelled to London for the first time, as part of a screening held art London's P21 gallery. Directed by Belgian film director, Luc Pien, the film creates a space in which Iraqis discuss what has been done to their country, and what the future ahead beholds. Interviewees are not only Iraqi, but also members of the European public, civil servants, former United Nations staff — voices the film shuttles between.

​The film achieves what few documentaries before have, letting Iraqis tell their own story and express their wants, without censorship. The film casts a greater light on not only the past, but also current developments, including the rise of ISIS. Instead of distilling events, the perspectives woven into the film, challenges narratives uncritically accepted by the masses. The film is not intended to speak to politicians or policy makers, but to audiences hungry for a human perspective, from idivudals those whose lives are still dictated by events ‘back home’.

ندوة بعنوان توحيد جهود القوى الوطنية العراقية في ظل التداعيات الإقليمية والدولية - بتاريخ ٢٤/١٠/٢٠١٥
FRB held a Seminar on the unification of Iraqi nationalist efforts amidst regional & international challenges 

Founding member of the Foreign Relations Burea (FRB) and director of Arab Lawyers Association (UK), Sabah al Mukhtar, speaks about the lawless environment Iraq has been swallowed whole by, since Anglo-American forces invaded in 2003. The event was hosted by the London Centre of International Law Practice and Edwards Wildman Palmer on 9 December, 2014.​
 
His presentation tackles ways to recover proceeds that have been fraudulently secured through bribes and unlawful investment contracts linked to Iraqi government affiliates.

The conference closed with the following points:

• The Iraqi Forum has agreed to adopt a declaration based on the discussions that arose over the last two days
• To adopt a statute, that sets out the forum’s objectives, powers and limitations
• Participants affirm that the forum is a nationalist, professional and research-based entity, independent of politics. We are not  affiliated with any party, internal or external 
• The forum encourages participants to utilise all their scientific and technical capabilities and their professional expertise to serve the needs of their country and fellow citizens 
• The forum is open to all Iraqis and does. Members are seen as equals, and not discriminated against on the basis of religion, sect or nationality.
•  The Conference invites the members of the General Assembly and the Specialized Committees to open up channels of communication and cooperation with relevant bodies, humanitarian and otherwise, to cater to the needs of Iraqis
• We collectively assert that the forum is not merely a national organization. It’s mission is to assist as best as possible by harnessing research across of academic fields. 
• We call upon the General Secretariat to expedite the establishment of the forum’s headquarters, and finalise the composition of its administrative and organizational structure and standing committees. We hope that they review the proposals put forward by participants regarding resources.
• We welcome the specialised committees founded during the conference to expand their efforts by hosting meetings to attract more members from various professional fields 

 
Istanbul, Turkey - 1st November 2014

١) الإعلان عن قيام المنتدى العراقي للنخب والكفاءات

٢) إقرار النظام الأساسي للمنتدى

٣) يؤكد المشاركون أن المنتدى هو كيان وطني مهني وعلمي وبحثي مستقل ليس له اهداف سياسية او حزبية وهو غير مرتبط بأي جهة او طرف داخلي او خارجي

٤) يؤكد المؤتمرون حرصهم على توظيف قدراتهم العلمية والفنية وخبراتهم المهنية في تقديم كل ما يخدم العراق وشعبه ويُعينه على تجاوز المصاعب التي يعانيها

٥) المنتدى هو كيان وطني جامع يتسع لكل العراقيين الذين شملهم النظام الداخلي بعضويته, من غير اي اعتبار للدين او الطائفة  أو القومية

٦) يدعو المؤتمرون اعضاء الجمعية العامة واللجان التخصصية الى فتح آفاق التعاون والتنسيق مع الجهات المختلفة التي تسعى لتحقيق خدمة وطنية للعراق وشعبه 

٧) يؤكد المؤتمر انه ليس بديلا عن اية منظمة او تيار وطني اخر وان رسالته ذات صفة واهداف علمية وبحثية ومهنية كما جاء في نظامة الداخلي

٨) يدعو المؤتمرون الامانة العامة الى الإسراع بتهيئة مقر المنتدى وتشكيل هيكله الاداري والتنظيمي ولجانه الدائمة وتنفيذ المقترحات التي طلبها المشاركون والعمل على توفير موارد مناسبة له لا تتناقض مع ما ورد في نظامه الداخلي او هذا البيان

٩) يدعو المؤتمرون اللجان التخصصية التي انبثقت عن المؤتمر التأسيسي الى تنفيذ ما قررته في اجتماعاتها ومواصلة الجهد لاستقطاب المزيد من الكفاءات كل في مجال تخصصه
 
إسطنبول في الأول من تشرين الثاني– نوفمبر 2014

A panel discussion co-organised by London-based Iraqi women’s organization, Tadhamun (solidarity) and the Reading Peace Group took place on Oct. 20 2014. The human cost of the Iraq war has become increasingly visible on our screens and newspapers.

​The deepening political and security crisis, nourished by relentless political failures, has made it increasingly impossible for international aid organisation to protect citizens in need. When human rights are left unprotected, the greater the chances of violations are. Speakers included Tadhamun members Mrs Tahrir Swift and Mrs Haifa Zangana.

Members of Foreign Relations Bureau (Iraq) FRB attended an event organised by the Center of Strategic Studies for North Africa, reexamining legal issues that relate to Israel’s latest acts of aggression in Palestinian territories. 
 
FRB-I member Mr. Sabah al Mukhtar, joined in his capacity as the head of the Arab Lawyers Association in the UK. The event witnessed fruitful discussions and debates, offering comparative lessons applicable to populations beyond Palestine.​