Iraq News
Ramadan

In photos: Life in Ramadi returning to normal

By Diyaruna

A mother shops with her children in a market in Ramadi. Women under 'Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant' rule were forced to cover their faces with niqabs and men had to grow beards. [Saif Ahmed/Diyaruna]

A mother shops with her children in a market in Ramadi. Women under 'Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant' rule were forced to cover their faces with niqabs and men had to grow beards. [Saif Ahmed/Diyaruna]

A police officer directs traffic in Ramadi. Displaced residents have been returning to the city in droves since it was liberated from the 'Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant' in December 2015. [Saif Ahmed/Diyaruna]

A police officer directs traffic in Ramadi. Displaced residents have been returning to the city in droves since it was liberated from the 'Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant' in December 2015. [Saif Ahmed/Diyaruna]

A street vendor sells toys in Ramadi. [Saif Ahmed/Diyaruna]

A street vendor sells toys in Ramadi. [Saif Ahmed/Diyaruna]

Ramadi residents shop freely following the expulsion of the 'Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant' from the city. [Saif Ahmed/Diyaruna]

Ramadi residents shop freely following the expulsion of the 'Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant' from the city. [Saif Ahmed/Diyaruna]

Iraqi forces secure western Anbar after defeating the 'Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant'. [Saif Ahmed/Diyaruna]

Iraqi forces secure western Anbar after defeating the 'Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant'. [Saif Ahmed/Diyaruna]

A cleaning crew in Ramadi's Atibaa street removes debris from the side of the road, as markets re-open to residents. [Saif Ahmed/Diyaruna]

A cleaning crew in Ramadi's Atibaa street removes debris from the side of the road, as markets re-open to residents. [Saif Ahmed/Diyaruna]

Ramadi's Grand Mosque. Mosques in the city were used to incite violence and hatred when they were controlled by the 'Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant'. [Saif Ahmed/Diyaruna]

Ramadi's Grand Mosque. Mosques in the city were used to incite violence and hatred when they were controlled by the 'Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant'. [Saif Ahmed/Diyaruna]

Young men shopping in a Ramadi market. The 'Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant' had forced men to grow beards and adhere to Islamic dress codes under its rule. [Saif Ahmed/Diyaruna]

Young men shopping in a Ramadi market. The 'Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant' had forced men to grow beards and adhere to Islamic dress codes under its rule. [Saif Ahmed/Diyaruna]

Colourful clothes displayed on mannequins fill Ramadi shops once again. [Saif Ahmed/Diyaruna]

Colourful clothes displayed on mannequins fill Ramadi shops once again. [Saif Ahmed/Diyaruna]

Ramadi's revitalized markets are once more bustling with activity. [Saif Ahmed/Diyaruna]

Ramadi's revitalized markets are once more bustling with activity. [Saif Ahmed/Diyaruna]

Ramadi traffic officer Mohammed Obaid al-Thiyabi resumed his job directing traffic in Anbar's provincial capital after it was liberated from the 'Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant'. [Saif Ahmed/Diyaruna]

Ramadi traffic officer Mohammed Obaid al-Thiyabi resumed his job directing traffic in Anbar's provincial capital after it was liberated from the 'Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant'. [Saif Ahmed/Diyaruna]

Photos from Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province, show that life is returning to normal in the city. Nearly one year after its liberation from the "Islamic State of Iraq and Levant" (ISIL), Ramadi's revitalized markets are bustling with activity once again.

Displaced residents continue to return to their homes in droves since Iraqi forces liberated much of the city from ISIL last December. Around 80% of them have now returned amid continuous efforts by service departments to provide residents with electricity, water and sewer services.

Under ISIL's rule, women were not permitted to leave their homes without a male companion and men were forced to grow beards and adhere to Islamic dress codes. The group imposed its own school curricula steeped with violent ideology, and as a result, many parents refused to send their children to school.

Children are now back in school, while Anbar University has resumed classes this fall.

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