Iraq's prohibition zeal threatens Baghdad's boozy subculture
2024-12-22 09:00:01 - From: Al monitor
The smell of dampness rises through the dust at a private club in central Baghdad, one of many shut in a crackdown on alcohol sales in Iraq.
"We appealed to all authorities in the country, but no one listened to us," said the owner, a Christian who asked not to be named.
Although a law banning the sale and import of alcohol was passed in 2016 and came into force at the start of last year, its enforcement had been patchy.
But conservative lawmakers have a majority in parliament, and have pushed for stronger action.
