Iraq's prohibition costing millions each month and the loss of over 150,000 industry jobs
This is an extremely dangerous article for the existing administration in Iraq. We are not yet sure how many Iraqi citizens are unhappy with the implementation of prohibition laws. However, one thing is for sure, this article sheds light on Iraq acting more and more like Iran.
The scent of dampness mingles with dust in an abandoned private club in central Baghdad, one of many forced to close amid Iraq's crackdown on alcohol sales.
"We appealed to every authority in the country, but no one listened," said the club's owner, a Christian who requested anonymity.
Although a law banning the sale and import of alcohol was passed in 2016 and officially enforced at the start of last year, implementation has been inconsistent. However, enforcement has intensified, with conservative lawmakers now holding a parliamentary majority.
In November, several private social clubs, long-standing establishments in Baghdad, received official notices prohibiting them from manufacturing or serving alcoholic beverages. These warnings made it clear: violations would face legal consequences.
As a result, dozens of businesses have closed in recent months. Many owners, often from the Yazidi community, have staged protests in central Baghdad to voice their frustration. The ban has been deeply unpopular among Christians and Yazidis, but even many Muslims oppose it, as alcohol consumption remains widespread.
The Christian club owner described his establishment as a social space for bingo tournaments and music evenings, insisting it was peaceful and unintrusive. Yet, customers have stopped coming. Now, only a single employee remains to guard the dusty premises, where playing cards and dirty glasses lie scattered across empty tables.
A Game of Cat and Mouse
Despite the restrictions, alcohol remains accessible in Iraq through alternative channels. The autonomous Kurdistan region allows alcohol sales, and travelers can still purchase beverages at Baghdad International Airport's duty-free shops.
In Baghdad, some delivery services and discreet shops continue to supply alcohol. "It's a constant game of cat and mouse with the authorities," said one shopkeeper, speaking through a small window in what appeared to be a closed storefront.
To avoid detection, employees keep watch, quickly shutting windows whenever security patrols approach. The shopkeeper highlighted the hypocrisy of the situation: "Officials shut us down, but then come back in plain clothes to buy alcohol."
A nearby social club manager, overseeing a space once frequented by over 50,000 members, now stares at empty dining halls. "We have no customers left," he admitted.
The Interior Ministry did not respond to requests for comment. However, in September, Ministry spokesperson General Miqdad Miri justified the closures, claiming some bars and gambling halls were linked to "gangs, criminals, organ traffickers, and murderers."
Prohibition and Its Consequences
The crackdown extends beyond government enforcement. Armed groups have attacked and even bombed liquor stores in recent years, contributing to a climate of fear and uncertainty.
Razaw Salihy, Amnesty International's Iraq researcher, criticized prohibition policies as ineffective, arguing they often lead to increased violence, illicit markets, and human rights abuses.
Ironically, the government itself imposed a 200% customs tax on imported alcohol in February 2023, contradicting its prohibition stance.
Yazidi lawmaker Mahma Khalil joined merchants in challenging the law's constitutionality in court, but their case was rejected. Khalil estimated that the ban has impacted between 150,000 and 200,000 workers in industries tied to alcohol sales, resulting in millions of dollars in monthly losses.
He noted that many Yazidi and Christian entrepreneurs, who have operated businesses in Baghdad since the 1960s, are now considering relocating to the Kurdish region or leaving Iraq entirely.
"As Yazidis, like Christians, we have a constitutional right to practice our customs, including selling, importing, and consuming alcoholic beverages," Khalil asserted.
For now, the future of Baghdad's social clubs and liquor vendors remains uncertain, caught between cultural traditions, political agendas, and an ever-tightening grip of prohibition laws.
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