Islamic research

The name of Haider al-Abadi was not widely circulated in Iraqi media; the man liked to keep to himself and to stay out of the spotlight. People who know him, however, describe him as a “modest” and “practical” man, not a narcissist. After long weeks of debates, dialogues, political battles …

Iraq’s president on Monday named Haider al-Abadi as the country’s new prime minister, an appointment that came amid speculation that the embattled incumbent, Nouri al-Maliki, would cling to power even after his country had dissolved into chaos and the United States made it clear that it would not support him as …

Extremists from the Islamic State have killed at least 500 people, including women and children, Iraqi officials said. Some of the victims were buried alive. The killings reported by Iraqi Human Rights Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani to Reuters add to a long list of atrocities reportedly committed by the radical …

The demonstration came amid renewed violence between Israel and Palestinian militants after a three-day ceasefire ended on Friday. An emergency appeal in the UK for people affected by the conflict in Gaza has raised £4.5m in less than 24 hours, the Disasters Emergency Committee said. Meanwhile, David Cameron and Barack …

The United Nations (UN) Security Council has lashed out at the crimes committed by the ISIL Takfiri group inside Iraq and Syria, calling it a threat to the whole region. British Ambassador to the UN Mark Lyall Grant, who is the president of the Security Council for August, said in a …

Soldiers of the Iraqi army have inflicted heavy losses on the ISIL Takfiri terrorists in separate clashes around the militant-held city of Mosul. At least 60 militants were killed in one airstrike targeting a juvenile prison in Mosul, the provincial capital of Nineveh province, on Wednesday. The prison was being …

The United Nations (UN) says that some 40,000 Iraqis from the minority Yazidi population have become stranded on a mountain in the country’s northwest amid violence by ISIL Takfiri militants. Tens of thousands of Iraqis belonging to the Kurdish minority group have reportedly taken refuge in nine different locations on …

The violence in Iraq has killed more than 5,500 civilians over the first six months of the year, according to a report by the United Nations that documents the massive humanitarian toll of the Sunni militant offensive. The Islamic State (Isis) and other Sunni insurgents seized control of the city …

The Government has been accused of failing to regulate arms sales to Israel following evidence that weapons containing British-made components are being used in the bombardment of Gaza. Documents shown to The Independent reveal that arms export licences worth £42m have been granted to 130 British defence manufacturers since 2010 to sell …

Protesters have closed down a Sainsbury’s supermarket in Birmingham City Centre as part of a pro-Palestine demonstration. Calling on the retail giant to remove products sourced from Israel, demonstrators gathered outside the Union Street store this afternoon. Some protesters lay down on the floor in protest and security staff were …