Six months following the US invasion, Esam Pasha, a 30-year-old Iraqi artist and writer, proudly created a mural titled "Resilience" over a large portrait of Saddam Hussein on a government building wall. He now resides in the United States. Pasha is one of many Iraqis who have left the country since the war, including doctors, businessmen, academics, and other professionals that Iraq cannot afford to lose. Pasha reminisces about spending days sipping tea and conversing at a gallery in Baghdad, stating, "I can still hear the sounds and the birds and almost smell the tea." His mural depicted a vibrant celebration of Baghdad life and what he described as "the ever-shining sun of Iraq." Pasha mentioned in a phone interview from Connecticut that he did not use any black paint in the mural, as he believed Baghdad already had enough black from its past. The mural, located on a wall of the Ministry of Labour, is inaccessible to the public due to security measures. Pasha expressed hope that one day Baghdad would be safe enough for public artworks to be enjoyed by all, envisioning a cleaner and more beautiful city if other artists followed suit. Abu Mina, a ceramic artist and university professor, continues to visit the gallery Pasha recalls with affection, but he notes that there is no security and as a result, no one is purchasing art. Due to the lack of payment from the university and the dangerous conditions, most of his students are not attending classes. Abu Mina is contemplating leaving, as he believes only three students will graduate this year, with the remaining 27 never attending class. The Higher Education Ministry reports that 185 university teachers have been killed, 52 kidnapped, and 41 wounded since April 2003. A recent double bombing at a Baghdad university resulted in the deaths of at least 70 people, mostly students. Abu Mina's son is studying medicine, but classes are infrequent, and many professors have relocated to Damascus for safety reasons. Accessing medical care in Iraq can be difficult and time-consuming, leading those who can afford it to seek treatment abroad. Hospital emergency rooms are often understaffed and overwhelmed when faced with a surge of casualties from bombings and shootings. According to a recent United Nations report, there has been a concerning rise in attacks on professionals such as teachers, doctors, artists, lawyers, ex-military officers, and journalists, usually carried out by extremists and militant/terror groups. The report also mentioned a growing trend of attacks on academics linked to Islamic extremism. Asam Rifaat, a 38-year-old criminal lawyer in Baghdad, has decided to leave Iraq with his family due to the dangerous situation in the city. "It has become a place where dead people live, and I am not prepared for my children to grow up without parents," he expressed. He also stated, "I cannot advocate for justice in a country governed by militias who operate with impunity," referring to armed groups known for carrying out frequent killings, often in collaboration with law enforcement. "To put it bluntly, we are living in a lawless environment," Rifaat emphasized. "Whenever I step out of my house, I have to take a good look at Nora and Mahmoud because I always fear that I may not return, that I may be killed or kidnapped." His wife, a 35-year-old teacher, has resigned from her job to care for their children at home. Salim al-Taie, a former army officer, 45, resides in Amriya in western Baghdad with his wife and three children, aged five to 12. He expresses concern for his safety every time Asam leaves for work, especially when he hears urgent news about bombs on television. In the past four years, Salim has noticed a significant deterioration in the situation in Baghdad, with a lack of respect for the law being a major concern. He described life in Baghdad as similar to living in a city controlled by the mafia, where anyone could be killed without warning. He mentioned the tragic deaths of two friends who were pilots, killed by gunmen. Despite trying to remain hopeful, the ongoing violence and bombings in the city proved him wrong. Taie decided to move to Egypt after halting his children's schooling due to safety concerns. His daughters cried when they found out they wouldn't see their friends anymore, which ultimately led to his decision to leave Iraq for good. Taie expressed his desire for his children to be safe and happy, even if it meant never returning to Iraq.