by an IWPR contributor, writer’s name and her neighbourhood have not been revealed because of security concerns, Institute for War and Peace Reporting, UK,US, Africa - My neighbourhood in Baghdad was once known for its luxurious houses and large gardens. It was a quiet place when I moved here in 1990. One of the things that I enjoyed about the neighbourhood was its diversity. My closest friend, Thanaa, lived two blocks away. While she was pious and I am secular, such things were not an issue.