Radio Free Iraq (Arabic: إذاعة العراق الحرّ, romanized: Izaa'at al 'Iraaq al Hurr) was a 24-hour radio station broadcasting in Arabic from Prague, Czech Republic, and directed to Iraq and the Iraqi diaspora. It started its broadcasts on 30 October 1998[1] and was part of the programming of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), which is funded by the United States Congress. The radio station also ran an online edition which had regularly updated news and reports in Arabic.
إذاعة العراق الحرّ | |
| Formation | 30 October 1998 |
|---|---|
| Defunct | July 31, 2015 |
| Purpose | Broadcast Media |
| Headquarters | Prague Broadcast Center, Prague, Czech Republic |
Parent organization | U.S. Agency for Global Media |
| Website | www |
Iraqi president Saddam Hussein ordered the Iraqi Intelligence Service, to "violently disrupt the Iraqi broadcasting of Radio Free Europe". A plot to attack the Prague headquarters with an RPG-7 from a window across the street had been foiled by the Czech Security Information Service (BIS).[2]
The service ended on July 31, 2015,[3] after what RFE/RL characterized as a merger with Radio Sawa Iraq,[4] part of the Arabic-language Sawa service that replaced the Voice of America Arabic service.
References
edit- ^ "Home". iraqhurr.org.
- ^ https://www.rferl.org/a/Czech_Intelligence_Reveals_Iraqi_Plot_To_Attack_RFERL/1891512.html
- ^ "Radio Free Iraq Signs off After 17 Years of Service".
- ^ "راديو سوا - العراق راديو سوا | موسيقى | أخبار | فنون | ثقافة". www.radiosawa.com. Archived from the original on 2016-06-26.