Baghdad pizzeria thrives against all odds

In our report, we take a look at Il Paese, an Italian restaurant and pizzeria in Baghdad that has stayed in business against all the odds. In a city rife with sectarian warfare and kidnappings targeting Christians, Christian restaurant owner Saad Albert Toufik has kept his restaurant open.

Toufik told FRANCE 24, "The first time I was kidnapped it was on the pretext that I was collaborating with the Americans, but that was a lie. My kidnappers just wanted money. The second time, they said it was because I’m a Christian and my restaurant has stayed open.”

And he’s not alone. Most of his staff are Christians as well, and all of them have been threatened by local mercenaries and insurgents.

Nonetheless, the survival of the restaurant is evidence of the growing normalisation within Iraq. With things getting better, Toufik is now feeling confident enough to expand his business and open a patisserie next door.