A diorama can be simply a way of showing a model in its surroundings. For example in Britain an agricultural tractor set on a simple surface looking like a corn field. With this type of diorama the model is the main thing. Or it can be more complex and tell a story, with several related models in a more complex setting: a family on a roadside picnic with a table cloth, hamper, food, cups etc. a small dog and a car in the background. This could be modern, or like a photo I saw belonging to a big country house: the scene was from the 1920s, the butler in livery (tail coat) and holding a bottle of Champagne, the people in 1920 dress, and it spoke volumes about the leisured classes (like the TV program Downton Abbey). Or a hoopla stall at a fairground (the problem being to hang the ring in mid air).
None of this is very like Iraq! But how about a roadside stall selling something, with the seller holding something up and calling out, and people standing around with one holding out a hand, and one walking away holding something bought. A string of light bulbs (alight if it was dark), a telegraph or telephone pole or street sign nearby, a dog, children, a passing handcart with items to sell ..... There are lots of figures and other things available from model suppliers.
I looked at https://twitter.com/IraqPics and found a huge number of photos of Iraq. Here a are some that could be ideas for a
diorama. In fact I rather like the idea of the first:
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