Frustration and Fury in Iraq: A Stranger in Your Own City

Ghaith Abdul-Ahad's book, A Stranger in Your Own City, reflects on the impact of the US-led invasion of Iraq 20 years ago. The book shatters the assumption that sectarianism was deeply rooted in Iraq's history, revealing that it was imposed by new rulers who needed a political system based on sectarianism to build constituencies. The book also highlights the militarization of ordinary lives, the rise of corruption, and the mass protests that demanded an end to the post-2003 political system. The protests shook the system, but it quickly rebounded, killing hundreds and injuring tens of thousands more.