WASHINGTON -- RFE/RL’s Arabic Service to Iraq, Radio Free Iraq (RFI) will air
its final broadcast on July 31. The resources of RFI will be merged with Radio
Sawa Iraq to provide the audience with extensive Iraq-specific news and
informational programming. The new Radio Sawa Iraq programming will be broadcast
on both its existing frequency and those of RFI during a period of
transition.
In recognition of their service, BBG Chairman Jeffrey Shell
presented letters of appreciation to RFI colleagues, noting that, “[Radio Free
Iraq’s] coverage of all sides of Iraq’s political scene has been unparalleled
and deeply appreciated by its audience, as has its coverage of news from
throughout the country with its wide network of regional correspondents. Iraqi
decision makers have considered RFI a must listen or read in their daily news
diet while Iraqi citizens have expressed gratitude to RFI for providing a
platform for them to raise their voices and concerns.”
RFE/RL
Editor-in-Chief Nenad Pejic paid tribute to the sacrifices made by RFI
colleagues to deliver the news in a country riven by constant political turmoil,
violence, and war. A bomb blast at the AlHamra Hotel in Baghdad in 2005 ripped
apart the Service’s bureau, two correspondents - Khamail Muhsin Khalaf and Nazar
Abdulwahid al-Radhi - were murdered in 2007, and RFI Baghdad Bureau chief Dr.
Muhammad Bdaiwi Owaid al-Shammari was shot dead at a checkpoint in 2014 while on
his way to work. RFI correspondents have also suffered kidnappings, death
threats, harassment, and physical injury while reporting the news.
In
remarks to RFI staff members, Middle East Broadcasting Networks (MBN) President
Brian Conniff said that, “At this moment in history, when Iraq is threatened by
an extremist Islamic insurgency and faces numerous challenges in rebuilding from
decades of open warfare and authoritarian rule, we believe adding RFI’s
signature programming to the Radio Sawa Iraq lineup will provide the audience
high quality content that will enhance their listening experience.” MBN manages
and oversees Radio Sawa.
Radio Free Iraq was created by RFE/RL in 1998,
in response to direction from the U.S. Congress. Led first by former U.S.
Ambassador to Iraq David Newton, and since 2004 by journalist Sergei
Danilochkin, it has provided accurate and non-sectarian news and information to
local audiences and fostered informed debate of issues that are not otherwise
reported in Iraq’s ethnically, politically and religiously fragmented media.
*30
October 1998
1998-2004 on short wave
2002-2013 on medium wave (first
Armenia 1314 kHz, later Kuwait 1593 kHz)
after 2003 on FM, 2015 13
cities
closure already
proposed in 2012
(Dr. Hansjoerg Biener, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
