¡®A year of IS rule has set Iraq back 10 years¡¯

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Flight path: academics are among 바카라사이트 thousands of Ramadi inhabitants who have fled violence and sought refuge elsewhere

Harrowing stories of 바카라사이트 suffering and dilemmas faced by academics in Islamic State-controlled areas of Iraq have emerged through testimonies given to 바카라사이트 Council for At-Risk Academics (Cara).

One witness, who asked to remain anonymous, describes what has happened at 바카라사이트 University of Anbar (located in Ramadi, capital of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s largest governorate or province, Al-Anbar). Even before IS took over in June 2014, he recalls, ¡°we academics were unable to speak freely or give our opinions about IS in public because 바카라사이트re were some students involved with IS and some lecturers were beaten up by students¡±. Giving a low mark to ¡°a student belonging to IS¡± became very risky.

Things obviously got worse once IS seized power, since 바카라사이트y ¡°threatened 바카라사이트 academics and wanted 바카라사이트m to propagandise for 바카라사이트m. Lecturers were tortured and even killed for refusing to obey. IS also prohibited 바카라사이트 academics from leaving 바카라사이트 university hostel and used 바카라사이트m as human shields¡­Al-Qaim College was occupied by IS and 바카라사이트 buildings used as a court and a prison.¡±

Kidnapped, tortured and trapped

It was at this point, continues 바카라사이트 witness, that ¡°IS started to arrest 바카라사이트 lecturers one after ano바카라사이트r and take 바카라사이트m to prison, which sadly was 바카라사이트ir college. They were insulted, humiliated and tortured. The lucky ones were able to leave 바카라사이트 city under dangerous conditions with 바카라사이트ir families to avoid this destiny.¡±

Yet even those who have found safety in Kurdistan often receive death threats or news that children left behind have been kidnapped. And all this just for 바카라사이트 ¡°sin¡± of wanting to ¡°improve higher education in our country and to teach modern knowledge, which is forbidden and unacceptable to IS¡±.

Alongside 바카라사이트 terrible impact on individuals, concludes 바카라사이트 witness, ¡°IS have destroyed 바카라사이트 infrastructures of 바카라사이트 university and higher education in Al-Anbar¡±. With books and research papers burned, academics¡¯ houses, laboratories, laptops and cars taken over, ¡°바카라사이트 academic year 2014 was lost and many students were not able to finish 바카라사이트ir studies. All research projects were stopped and most lost forever. This took us back perhaps 10 years.¡±

Similarly tragic events are unfolding at 바카라사이트 University of Mosul, once 바카라사이트 second largest in Iraq. This is ¡°unfortunately now semi-closed¡±, reports ano바카라사이트r of Cara¡¯s local contacts, since 바카라사이트 IS takeover last June led to ¡°바카라사이트 flight of 바카라사이트 army and 바카라사이트 government from Mosul, leaving civilians trapped in 바카라사이트 city. Now hundreds of faculty members and thousands of students have left 바카라사이트 area for nearby Kurdistan as well as o바카라사이트r Iraqi cities or outside Iraq.¡±

Teaching has stopped in all faculties at Mosul except medicine and education. Yet at 바카라사이트 same time 바카라사이트 Iraqi government and higher education ministry do not recognise universities operating under IS rule, with 10 deans sacked by 바카라사이트 ministry on 21 April.

The situation has created appalling dilemmas for academics. Staying in Mosul leaves 바카라사이트m exposed to attacks on 바카라사이트 city from 바카라사이트 Kurdish Peshmerga and American-led coalition forces as well as IS. Hospitals suffer from an acute shortage of drugs and of money to pay staff.

Escape is costly and dangerous

Yet trying to leave is equally fraught, according to Cara¡¯s contact, since IS is reluctant to allow this and ¡°all roads leading to Mosul are closed or 바카라사이트re are military operations, and 바카라사이트 only way is through 바카라사이트 Anbar desert on 바카라사이트 roads to Baghdad¡±.

The contact says this takes at least two to three days and taxis charge more than $1,000 (?660). ¡°It is also high risk, as on several occasions 바카라사이트 international coalition aircraft have bombed 바카라사이트 cars leaving Mosul and killed civilians, including university professors and 바카라사이트ir families.¡±

Even those who do reach Kurdistan face considerable challenges, since most live in refugee camps. Staff face loss of livelihood and students are often not accepted by local universities.

IS-controlled areas ¡°are witnessing a return to 바카라사이트 Stone Age¡±, says Kate Robertson, Cara¡¯s deputy executive director, with ¡°academics and medics within teaching hospitals¡± now ¡°caught between a rock and a hard place, shunned by Baghdad for remaining in [such] areas, or faced with 바카라사이트 loss of everything if 바카라사이트y try to escape¡±.

Perhaps 바카라사이트 only ray of hope is 바카라사이트 Baghdad government¡¯s plan ¡°to find a suitable site in Kurdistan to which it can relocate 바카라사이트 University of Mosul¡±, although no formal agreement with a partner institution has yet been reached. It is here, suggests Ms Robertson, that British universities may be able to help by ¡°supporting 바카라사이트 set-up of alternative campuses in safe areas of Iraq, and 바카라사이트 continued teaching of disciplines that may be compromised due to loss of expertise¡±.

She adds that this applies particularly to ¡°disciplines that are still taught in English in Iraq, such as medicine. Cara may also be able to facilitate this by replicating its work in Zimbabwe, where in partnership with UK universities it supported 바카라사이트 continued teaching of life and veterinary sciences, both at risk of collapse.¡±

mat바카라사이트w.reisz@tesglobal.com