I often find myself reflecting on the course my life has taken—especially since my long and ongoing battle against a corrupt judicial system in Iraq began more than a decade ago.

What began as a dream to contribute to Iraq’s growth and recovery gradually morphed into a nightmare—one in which my efforts were systematically dismantled by those in power.

When Saddam Hussein’s regime collapsed, many of us dared to hope. The idea that Iraq could rebuild itself, with reforms that would usher in justice and accountability, seemed within reach.

For a while, that hope even seemed realistic, particularly within the judicial system.

But over time, it became clear that this hope was a mirage. The stark reality is that Iraq’s judiciary has become more centralized and more politicized than ever before.

Today, judicial power rests almost entirely with Faiq Zaidan, the president of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC)—a man who has wielded his authority not to uphold the rule of law, but to shield political elites. People like me, who seek justice, are left to fight losing battles.

My journey into this fight began with the most basic of aspirations: to return to Iraq and contribute to its reconstruction and economic development.

In 2005, I became the chief engineer of a property development firm jointly owned by the Hanna brothers and Nechirvan Barzani, then the prime minister of the Kurdistan Region. In a male-dominated industry, I worked tirelessly to earn my position.

A career highlight was overseeing the renovation of the historic Basra International Hotel—a role that should have been a professional honor. But instead of being recognized, my success drew the ire of those who did not want to see a Kurdish woman leading such a significant project.

In 2014, the situation took a dangerous and sinister turn.

After refusing to contribute millions of dollars to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s campaign, I became the target of a kidnapping plot. I was abducted and tortured by individuals I had once trusted—my business partners, the Hanna brothers, who were deeply complicit in the plot.

It wasn’t enough for them to take my money; they wanted me out of the country altogether. Their goal was to steal a loan of over $100 million from TBI Bank tied to the Safat Al Basra Project, seize my assets—and ultimately, eliminate me.
Miraculously, I escaped. But the ordeal was far from over.

When I returned to Iraq, my passport was confiscated, and I was threatened with arrest, while the true perpetrators—my former partners—remained free.

That was when I first met Faiq Zaidan face-to-face. His involvement in my case revealed just how far his power extends beyond the courtroom.

Zaidan has consistently used his position to manipulate the judiciary for personal and political gain. His ties to Iran-backed militias and his role in eroding Iraq’s sovereignty are well-documented and deeply troubling.

This is not a judge who seeks justice; he is a willing instrument of financial and political exploitation.

Even after a conviction was secured against the Hanna brothers—the very men who fraudulently persuaded me to enter into a business partnership with them—Zaidan’s influence allowed them to walk free, having paid a $15 million bribe.

This was followed by a rigged retrial, engineered to exonerate them and shift the blame onto me.

It felt like a slap in the face—not only to me, but to anyone who still believes in the idea of justice.

Even Nechirvan Barzani, now President of the Kurdistan Region and my former employer, along with TBI Bank, abandoned me—seemingly under the pressure of Iran’s growing influence.

Nechirvan leveraged the full power of his office to side with gangsters against a loyal and innocent citizen. But the deepest wound isn’t just the betrayal by individuals—it’s the realization that the entire system is designed to crush those who challenge it.

Under Zaidan’s orchestration, I’ve been subjected to an ongoing trial in which fairness has become a distant dream. Judges loyal to him, like Judge Satar Warwar, have displayed blatant bias, going so far as to silence my legal team in court.

This is not an isolated incident—it’s emblematic of the wider rot within the system that has led to my continued victimization.

Still, the fight goes on. In February, my legal team, led by international human rights attorney Robert Amsterdam, filed a lawsuit in a U.S. district court against Zaidan and several other high-ranking Iraqi officials.

The charges are grave—extortion, kidnapping, torture, and attempted murder.

I am under no illusions. This lawsuit will not be a magic solution. In Iraq, justice has tragically become a commodity—a tool to be bought, sold, and manipulated.

The entire system has been so deeply corrupted that it now serves political and financial interests, not the people. And yet, despite these odds, I remain determined to see this fight through.

The release of a report by the Iraq Watch Group at the London School of Economics has added much-needed weight to my claims. It has laid bare the extent of Zaidan’s corruption and the betrayal of the public trust.

This case should serve as a wake-up call. It underscores why bipartisan lawmakers in the United States have introduced the “Free Iraq from Iranian Influence Act.” The entrenched power of figures like Faiq Zaidan is not merely a domestic crisis—it represents a regional threat enabled by external interference.

This report—and my ongoing struggle—should be a call to action for the international community. The corruption in Iraq is not hidden. It is brazen, systematic, and devastating. But let me be clear: I am not someone who has surrendered to injustice. I have not been silenced.

I will continue to speak out. I will continue to fight.

Because this battle isn’t just about me, it’s about the future of Iraq. It’s about justice, accountability, and the right of every citizen to live in a country where fairness is more than just a slogan.

To the international community: Iraq’s judiciary is collapsing beneath the weight of corruption.

To President Donald Trump: I urge you to see the urgency of this moment. Stand with the Iraqi people against this judicial tyranny. Your leadership can shine a necessary light on the corruption that has enabled Iranian-backed influence and allowed justice to decay.

Aid and diplomacy can no longer ignore this reality—justice reform must be at the heart of any meaningful engagement with Iraq.

To my fellow Iraqis: I have not given up. I will not give up. I continue to fight—not only for myself, but for every woman, every whistleblower, every victim who refuses to be silenced.

This fight is not merely personal. It is national.

And it is far from over.