# Iraqi Flag **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 24, 2004, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iraqi-flag/261270 "2004-08-24T14:35:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iraqi-flag/261270/1 "2004-08-24T14:35:04Z")
Back in April, the Governing Council approved the [design for a new Iraqi flag.](http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/04/27/iraq.flag.ap/) It caused an immediate flap, but I don’t recall seeing anything about it since. I noticed that the Iraqis are carrying their familiar [red, white and black banner with green stars and Arabic writing](http://www.1uptravel.com/flags/images/iz-lgflag.gif) during the Olympics. Has anything happened recently? Was the new design scrapped? ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iraqi-flag/261270/2 "2004-08-24T14:55:02Z")
The new flag was not popular. [According to Wikepedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Iraq) (so take with a grain of salt): > [@](#): > > In the face of these protests, it appears that adoption of this flag has been postponed, perhaps indefinitely. At the handover ceremony on June 28, the old flag was used, retaining the “Allahu akbar” - though in a stylized script - not in the original handwriting which has been rumoured to have been Saddam’s. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iraqi-flag/261270/3 "2004-08-24T15:07:17Z")
That proposal went nowhere in face of public opposition; besides, IGC had no legislative power then. They’ve decided to let things cool off before moving ahead with something like this. Except for the _takbir_\* inscription (1991), the flag dates back to before SH, being a UAR flag (Iraq aspired to join UAR but never officially did). [url=“[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag\_of\_Iraq](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Iraq)”]Wiki\* article on the Iraqi flag.