Stay away from the demonstration. Do not go outside to watch or try to cross the crowd. Even peaceful protests can turn violent and disrupt transport.
- If you are inside, contact hotel reception or security by phone. Ask where to wait and whether the authorities have issued instructions. Do not leave simply to keep a sightseeing or airport booking.
- If you are outside, move away from the gathering without approaching it to reach your hotel. Seek shelter away from the protest if you cannot return without crossing it.
- Follow local authorities' instructions, including any shelter, evacuation or curfew order. Monitor local news and your government's travel advice. Curfews and vehicle bans can start at short notice.
- Keep water, food and essential medicine available where you are staying. Ask the hotel and your transport provider to check conditions before any onward journey.
These precautions apply in federal Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. Use instructions for your actual city, not reports from another region. Staying in a hotel is not a safety guarantee. We cannot verify whether your street is currently open.
Sources: UK FCDO safety advice, Government of Canada travel advice.
Checked on 2026-10-25.