Our first account is by Zainab Naji, who describes a day in the life of a colleague, Ikram. She says: “I met Ikram when I was working as a lecturer in Baghdad university. I chose to describe a day of her life because it shows the responsibilities that Iraqi women have to bear these days. I also believe her life shows how educated Iraqis of all sects and backgrounds can still work together and find common ground, despite the tensions and hostilities all around them.”

In the morning, Ikram puts on her clothes and sits with her children Essam, 9, and his sister Sara, 4, waiting for the local minibuses that take children to school and employees to work.