Iraq: Torn between corruption and power struggles | DW Documentary

The film follows journalists founding the first independent radio station in Iraq. It’s hoped that the broadcasts will contribute to the reconstruction of their homeland following the victory of the anti-IS coalition – in a region that’s been affected by war and division since 1980.

July 2017: Mosul is liberated and in ruins. Ghadeer, a young journalist who fled to Brussels after Mosul was captured by the IS terror militia, leaves behind a promising future in Europe. He returns to his home city to found “Radio One,” along with a group of friends. Their station is free of religious, ideological and political influence. Its aim is to contribute to dialog and peaceful coexistence in a divided nation.

The first two years are a Utopian era for the volunteer radio station founders. Through its reporting on the country’s problems, “Radio One” garners a nationwide audience. But without external funding and advertising revenue, the channel gets into financial difficulties. At the same time, the journalists find themselves targeted by militias steered by political clans. These are fighting for control of Iraq, and brutally crack down on any resistance they meet.

Iraq was not rebuilt after the second Gulf War, paving the way for rampant corruption, power struggles and influence from abroad, particularly from Iran. People here are struggling to make ends meet, and the nation is on the brink of civil war. Ultimately, the recession seals the end of “Radio One”. Ghadeer sees no other option but to sell the channel to an anonymous investor.

The film also documents the disillusionment of the Iraqi population. Twenty years after the US army’s invasion, with its promise of democracy, people can only look on as their country threatens to backslide into chaos yet again.

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41 comments

  6. This is what we do all around the world.
    Then we wonder why we have mass migration and we wonder why people hate us

  7. Why do they call the victims of the ferry tragedy Martyrs? Is this a translation issue or is this the how it is viewed. In English a Martyr is someone who is killed for their beliefs, generally for refusing to renounce their beliefs or accept another belief. Not meant as a critique, but trying to understand exactly how the situation is viewed.

  8. These people just destroy each other but then blame the west. I am so sorry, the governments and religious leaders just don’t care except to line their own pockets.

  9. Started hopeful, ended sad… From the beginning I was thinking “Yes, Europe rebuilt but that was After peace and stability” – Iraq does not have a pragmatic and stable government. All neighbors meddle in Iraq, to control the power in Iraq

  12. They said weapons of mass destructions, while their own weapons of mass destruction bulldozed Iraq. So sad to see this. I wish strength and prosperity to these people.

  18. The US media is afraid to make a documentary like this because their government committed horrible war crimes in Iraq.

  19. religion has killed more people than all wars. As long as a country is ruled by terrorists who kill in the name of religion, nothing will change in Iraq.

  22. And neither the protesters around the world nor the their muslin “brothers“ don’t seem to care….I wonder why

  27. Idk if anyone notices this but…the most religious parts of the world is the most UNPEACEFUL…that says a lot about religion

    fun fact: more ppl have been killed in the name of religion than all wars put together

  30. Are all allies also involve in all this and their mafia settlers maybe world wide? Those the friendship on power of China Russia and USA maybe are destroying all humans homes and lives maybe just to replace the humans build species from one creator all maybe. In this mafia world full of money mafia payments maybe and their love for richness and power for their own all has forget the bibles and many other world books all also just read but not fallow for the willing of Humans and their survival maybe. How can this world be better uder all religious hate and persecutions or killing under destructions. Who in reality in this one world for humans will become perfect in all his knowledge? Who will so perfect in this world that the creator need to use him maybe? Who?

  31. How many world nations allies full of settlers mafia with money are interesting in all Arab world lands and resources all today maybe and are investing in mercenaries and militias to harms all not united arab world to downloand and cleansing their cultures all maybe?

  33. Are the Arab world been exterminated just for their lands of a huge plan maybe of the world most bigger nations of the world united maybe for example China, USA, EU, Asia all allies maybe future development in a hidden plans maybe?

  34. Has US or UK jailed those responsible for the Iraq war – none. In fact they proudly boast how well their weapons performed, snipers killed and so on.

  37. I wonder if colonizers ever thought that their actions would some day have a negative impact in their own nations, like refugee crisis.

  41. Unfortunately the people who are actually responsible for this will never be prosecuted, let alone charged. I'm looking at you George Bush and co…

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