Skip linksSkip to Content
play
Live
Navigation menu
  • News
    • Africa
    • Asia
    • US & Canada
    • Latin America
    • Europe
    • Asia Pacific
  • Middle East
  • Explained
  • Opinion
  • Sport
  • Video
    • Features
    • Economy
    • Human Rights
    • Climate Crisis
    • Investigations
    • Interactives
    • In Pictures
    • Science & Technology
    • Podcasts
play
Live

In Pictures

Gallery

Iraqis seek respite from oppressive reality

Amid ongoing violence and a record heat wave, Iraqi residents find some solace in Baghdad’s historic marketplace.

Iraq today [Mohammed Jamjoom/Al Jazeera]
An Iraqi man returning from Baghdad's historic Mutanabbi Street reads a book as he walks towards the city's downtown. Mutanabbi Street, a haven for the city’s intellectual elite, is lined with book stalls. [Mohammed Jamjoom/Al Jazeera]
By Mohammed Jamjoom
Published On 18 Aug 201518 Aug 2015
facebooktwitterwhatsappcopylink

Baghdad – With conflict raging and temperatures rising, Iraqi residents have grown increasingly concerned and angry.

A convergence of crises has gripped the country amid ongoing clashes between Iraqi security forces and the Islamic State of the Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group. Millions of citizens have been displaced, there are frequent power cuts, and temperatures have reached record highs.

The situation has prompted tens of thousands of Iraqis to mobilise, taking to the streets to demand an end to corruption in parliament and a return of the most fundamental government services. For many Iraqis, something as basic as constant access to clean water is considered a luxury.

Tired of the seemingly endless violence and the resulting scarcity of many goods and services, residents of Baghdad say they need some respite. Even in the scorching summer heat, parents still take their children to the historic Mutanabbi Street, where books and booksellers line the boulevard.

A quick stroll through the marketplace can provide residents with a much-needed break from Iraq’s oppressive reality.

Iraq today [Mohammed Jamjoom/Al Jazeera]
Regardless of the rising summer temperatures, a hot cup of tea is always considered a welcome and refreshing treat in Iraq. On the edges of Baghdad’s Tahrir Square, this vendor prepares tea for his customers. [Mohammed Jamjoom/Al Jazeera]
Advertisement
Iraq photos [Mohammed Jamjoom/Al Jazeera]
Mutanabbi Street is named after a 10th-century Iraqi poet and is located close to the city's old quarter. The area suffered a devastating blast from a car bomb in 2007, which killed dozens and shut the street down until the following year. [Mohammed Jamjoom/Al Jazeera]
Iraq photos [Mohammed Jamjoom/Al Jazeera]
In downtown Baghdad's Maidan Square, vendors sell everything from antiques to used appliances. The area is particularly crowded on Fridays. [Mohammed Jamjoom/Al Jazeera]
Iraq photos [Mohammed Jamjoom/Al Jazeera]
Iraqis of all ages come out to Maidan Square, looking for everything from art to household goods. [Mohammed Jamjoom/Al Jazeera]
Iraq photos [Mohammed Jamjoom/Al Jazeera]
This stall in Maidan Square sells traditional copper handicrafts. Copper and coppersmiths are an important part of Iraq's history and heritage. [Mohammed Jamjoom/Al Jazeera]
Iraq photos [Mohammed Jamjoom/Al Jazeera]
Baghdad's al-Qushla Square, which served as a military headquarters during the Ottoman era, has become a favorite spot for Iraqis seeking a safe space to express their creativity. [Mohammed Jamjoom/Al Jazeera]
Advertisement
Iraq photos [Mohammed Jamjoom/Al Jazeera]
An Iraqi woman and man discuss the price of some of the items for sale at Maidan Square. While some vendors sell their stock from stalls, others simply lay their goods out on a sheet or a piece of cardboard. [Mohammed Jamjoom/Al Jazeera]


    • About Us
    • Code of Ethics
    • Terms and Conditions
    • EU/EEA Regulatory Notice
    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Policy
    • Cookie Preferences
    • Sitemap
    • Work for us
    • Contact Us
    • User Accounts Help
    • Advertise with us
    • Stay Connected
    • Newsletters
    • Channel Finder
    • TV Schedule
    • Podcasts
    • Submit a Tip
    • Al Jazeera Arabic
    • Al Jazeera English
    • Al Jazeera Investigative Unit
    • Al Jazeera Mubasher
    • Al Jazeera Documentary
    • Al Jazeera Balkans
    • AJ+
    • Al Jazeera Centre for Studies
    • Al Jazeera Media Institute
    • Learn Arabic
    • Al Jazeera Centre for Public Liberties & Human Rights
    • Al Jazeera Forum
    • Al Jazeera Hotel Partners

Follow Al Jazeera English:

  • facebook
  • twitter
  • youtube
  • instagram-colored-outline
  • rss
Al Jazeera Media Network logo
© 2025 Al Jazeera Media Network