Curfew in lifted in Baghdad

08 Feb 2015. In 2003, Iraq (via US military) imposed a nightly curfew that aimed to curb violence following dozens being killed in suicide bombings. This curfew would go into effect from midnight to around 5am. Now, Iraq is lifting this curfew in a bid by the Prime Minister, Haider al-Abbadi to make the city of Baghdad feel like a livable place despite on-going violence still roaring across the country. This decision by Haider al-Abbadi is starting to have an effect on the people of Baghdad as an "upbeat mood" can be felt all around. The aim in raising the curfew is to create a positive flow for businesses owners who are now able keep their stores open past 11pm.

The curfew isn't the only thing being lifted. The prime minster also ordered for any roadblocks to be taken down. While I'm a proponent of "people need to live a little," I'm worried about what kind of effect this will have on groups like ISIL wanting to take advantage of situations like this. Does Haider al-Abbadi have a measure to combat future suicide bomber attempts like the one in the Shia neighborhood of Jididah, or the al-Shurjah market.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/02/iraq-curfew-baghdad-150207215227007.html

- Josephine Madrawska