Mustafa Salim: Growing up in Iraq

Mustafa Salim is a foreign reporter living in Iraq. In a recent article for the Washington Post, Salim talked about what his childhood was like growing up in Iraq in contrast to life during Coronavirus.

Currently, Iraq is still on lockdown and has strict curfews. Such regulations have been put in place in hopes of preventing the further spread of Coronavirus. Iraq is no stranger to government-enforced lockdowns. Horrific events plagued Mustafa Salim’s childhood. In 2003, Baghdad had lockdowns due to the US-led invasion and car bomb attacks that happened across the nation. “I walked past dead bodies in the street. I never stayed out late. As the world celebrated New Year’s Eve with fireworks, the only explosions I could remember here were the car bombs. It felt like we lived in darkness.” Salim touched on the nostalgia coronavirus has brought back into his life. As COVID-19 continues to spread, Salim feels as though he has deja vu. For the most part, the rest of the world is experiencing harsh restrictions for the first time due to stay-at-home orders from the government. Salim finds comfort in the fact Iraq is going through restrictions with the rest of the world right now. It makes him feel less alone this time around. Having social media has also helped bring people together during this time in Iraq.

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