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. Pasha now resides in the United States, along with many other Iraqis who have left their country since the war, including professionals like doctors, businessmen, and academics. Pasha fondly reminisces about spending time in a gallery in Baghdad, enjoying tea and conversation. His mural depicted a vibrant representation of Baghdad life and what he referred to as "the ever-shining sun of Iraq". Pasha mentioned in a phone interview from Connecticut that he did not use any black paint in his mural, as he believed Baghdad already had enough black in its memories. The mural, located on a wall of the Ministry of Labour, is currently inaccessible to the public due to security measures. Pasha expressed hope that one day Baghdad would be safe enough for public artworks that people could safely appreciate as they walked by. He envisioned a city where other artists followed his lead, making Baghdad beautiful and pristine once again. Abu Mina, a ceramic artist and university professor, continues to visit the gallery that Pasha remembers, but he notes that there is no security and therefore no sales of art. Due to not being paid for a month by the university and the dangerous conditions that deter students from attending class, Abu Mina is contemplating leaving. He expressed concern that only three students may graduate this year, as the majority of his students have not been 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. Accessing medical care in Iraq can be challenging, leading some to seek treatment abroad. Hospital emergency rooms dealing with a surge of patients from bombings and shootings often find themselves understaffed and overwhelmed. A recent United Nations report highlighted a concerning rise in attacks on professionals like teachers, doctors, artists, lawyers, ex-military officers, and journalists. The report attributed these attacks to extremists with conformist ideologies and militant/terror groups seeking to spread fear and intimidation. It also noted a growing trend of Islamic extremism being linked to assaults on academics. Asam Rifaat, a 38-year-old criminal lawyer residing in Baghdad's affluent Mansour district, expressed his decision to relocate his family out of Iraq due to the unsafe conditions in the city. He expressed his concern about the city becoming a dangerous place for his family, as armed militias operate above the law, often working with the police to carry out killings. He stated that he cannot work for justice in such an environment, as he fears for the safety of his children growing up as orphans. He emphasized that they are living in a lawless society, where he constantly worries about not returning home when he leaves. His wife, a teacher, has decided to quit her job to take care of their children. Salim al-Taie, a 45-year-old former army officer, lives in Amriya in western Baghdad with his wife and three children aged five to 12. He expresses his concern for his safety every time Asam leaves for work, and he becomes emotional when watching urgent news on television about bombs until Asam returns home. According to Salim, many things have changed in Baghdad in the last four years, and he believes that the lack of respect for the law is a disaster. He described life in Baghdad as similar to being in a city controlled by a criminal organization, where anyone could be murdered without reason. He recounted the deaths of two friends who were pilots, killed by gunmen. Despite trying to remain hopeful, he acknowledged that the escalating violence and killings in the city proved him wrong. He made the difficult decision to stop his children from attending school and relocate to Egypt. Taie shared that when he told his daughters they couldn't go to school anymore, they cried over not being able to see their friends. Their tears were heartbreaking and ultimately led him to leave Iraq permanently. He expressed a desire to spare his children from further pain, even if it meant never returning to Iraq.