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Despite government efforts, corruption still threatens Iraqis

Efforts to crack down on corruption in Iraq have resulted in improvement but much remains to be done, especially among forces tasked with protecting the population.

Iraqi demonstrators wave a flag as they gather in Tahrir Square.
Iraqi demonstrators wave a flag as they gather in Tahrir Square in the center of the capital, Baghdad, on October 25, 2020, to mark the first anniversary of a massive anti-government movement demanding the ouster of the entire ruling class accused of corruption. — AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP via Getty Images

BAGHDAD — Corruption remains rampant in Iraq despite some improvement in recent years. Procedures and practices within the security forces seem to be fostering this, raising additional concerns after recent high-profile cases, attempted cover-ups and a jailbreak across the border.

In Transparency International’s 2021 Corruption Perception Index published in January, the country gained two points compared with the previous year and is now considered at the same level as Zimbabwe, Cambodia and Honduras regarding perceived levels of public sector corruption.

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