Middle East - Anthony Ham [201]
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ELECTRICITY
Electrical current is 230 AC, 50Hz. Wall sockets are the three-prong, British-type plug. Since 2003, war, looting and neglect have devastated Iraq’s infrastructure. Twenty-four hour power is rare, especially in Baghdad. Most homes and businesses supplement the lack of power with generators.
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EMBASSIES & CONSULATES
Most countries strongly advice their citizens not to travel to Iraq. Foreign embassies in Iraq can only provide limited consular services, if any. Travel at your own risk.
Australia ( in Australia 02-6261 3305; www.iraq.embassy.gov.au; Baghdad International Zone)
Czech Republic ( 01-541 7136, 01-542 4868; www.mzv.cz/baghdad; baghdad@embassy.mzv.cz; al-Mansour district, Baghdad)
Germany ( 01-543 1470; www.bagdad.diplo.de; al-Mansour district, Baghdad)
Netherlands ( 01-778 2571, in the US 914-360-3982; iraq.nlembassy.org; bad@minbuza.nl; Baghdad International Zone)
Romania ( 01-778 2860; ambrobagd@yahoo.com; Arassat Al-Hindia St, Baghdad)
Switzerland ( 01-719 3091; bag.vertretung@eda.admin.ch; Baghdad)
UK ( 0790 191 1684; www.britishembassy.gov.uk/iraq; britishconsulbaghdad@yahoo.co.uk; Baghdad International Zone)
USA (Map; in the US 240-553-0581 ext 2413, 0770 443 0287; iraq.usembassy.gov; austemb.baghdad @dfat.gov.au; Baghdad International Zone) Note, the first phone number listed here requires you to dial the US, but it rings in Baghdad.
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GAY & LESBIAN TRAVELLERS
Homosexuality is illegal in Iraq. A 2006 UN human-rights report found that armed Islamic groups and militias have been actively targeting gays and lesbians with violence and murder. Families have engaged in so-called honour killings of gay relatives. That said, there is no reason why gay and lesbian travellers should not visit Iraq as long as they refrain from overt displays of affection in public. For up-to-date information, visit iraqilgbtuk.blogspot.com.
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HOLIDAYS
Shiite Muslims always seem to be mourning the death of some religious figure. In addition to the main Islamic holidays (Click here), Iraq also observes the following:
Nowruz (21 March) Kurdish New Year, Iraqi Kurdistan only.
Baghdad Liberation Day (9 April) Anniversary of the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime in 2003.
Ceasefire Day (8 August) End of Iran-Iraq war.
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INTERNET ACCESS
Most big-city internet cafés, which typically keep very long hours, are filled with cigarette smoke and charge about ID1000 to ID2000 per hour.
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INTERNET RESOURCES
Backpacking Iraqi Kurdistan (backpackiraq.blogspot.com) The original and still the best blog on travelling in Kurdish Iraq.
British Museum Iraq Project (www.britishmuseum.org/iraq) The British Museum’s project to protect and preserve Iraq’s cultural heritage.
Institute for War & Peace Reporting (www.uniraq.org) Independent reports by Iraqi journalists.
Iraq Updates (iraqupdates.com) Latest news and incident reports.
Iraqi Kurdistan Tourism Ministry (tourismkurdistan.com)
Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs (mofa.gov.iq) Includes news and listings of Iraqi embassies abroad.
Iraq Slogger (iraqslogger.com) News and scoops from Iraq.
Kurdish Regional Government (krg.org)
Operation Iraqi Freedom (www.mnf-iraq.com) Official website of coalition military forces in Iraq.
The Other Iraq (theotheriraq.com)
Soma Digest (soma-digest.com) English-language Kurdish newspaper.
UNAMI (www.uniraq.org) UN Assistance Mission for Iraq.
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LANGUAGE
Arabic and Kurdish are the official languages of Iraq. Arabic is spoken by 80% of the population. The Kurds speak a language that is widely known as Kurdish, but in reality Kurds speak