The October 2019 reform protests in Iraq marked a pivotal moment as young Iraqis challenged the established political order. The subsequent violent crackdown on activists fueled the engagement of thousands of Iraqis in the diaspora, enlivening their attachments and identities to their homeland. Leveraging social media platforms such as Clubhouse, Facebook, Instagram, Telegram, Twitter, and WhatsApp, these diaspora activists played a crucial role in mobilizing support and raising awareness about the protests and human rights abuses.
The diaspora activists engaged in remote political activism, challenging information hierarchies shaped by governments. However, this engagement also highlighted the rise of misinformation and disinformation on social media. Despite facing character assassinations and Internet blackouts orchestrated by the government, activists persisted in their efforts through social media outlets.
The protests served as a cauldron of emotions, with storytelling becoming a powerful tool to foster solidarity and challenge the existing system.
The collective memory of mass protests, facilitated by social media, continued to motivate a sense of unity and solidarity among Iraqis. The most prevalent slogans were “I’m taking back my rights” and “We want a homeland.”
In essence, diaspora activists played a crucial role in challenging online information wars during armed conflicts in their homelands by leveraging social media to raise awareness, counter disinformation, and mobilize support. The enlivened attachments and identities to their homeland were integral in sustaining their commitment. The collective memory and storytelling from the protests helped maintain the movement’s momentum and provided a platform for discussing important dates and events and holding those responsible accountable.
Key points:
- – The active involvement of Iraqi diaspora activists in response to the corrupt political system.
- – How Iraqi diaspora activists leveraged social media for propaganda and digital activism.
- – Recognition of the rise of misinformation and disinformation on social media during the protests.
- – Challenges faced by cyber activists.
- – Enlivening attachments to their homeland.
- – The role of collective memory and the importance of commemorations, storytelling, and online discussions in keeping the memory of the protests alive.
- – Notions of Solidarity: analysis of hashtags like “I’m taking back my rights” and “We want a homeland.” and their impact of creating unity and solidarity between Iraqis inside and in the diaspora.
- – Martyrs and injuries: address the numbers both in the essay and in the video
- – Digital Artefact: Add a creative expression of my personal response back then, featuring the construction of a miniature Tahrir Square for symbolic protests to enliven my identity and contribute to the collective memory of the October 2019 reform protests.
Marwa.A.N. 
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