Radio Free Iraq
 |
|
|---|---|
| Radio station | |
| Program type | news |
| reception | analog , FM 102.4 MHz & web radio |
| Reception area |
 Iraq
|
| business | October 30, 1998 to July 31, 2015 |
| Broadcaster | International Broadcasting Bureau (IBB) |
| List of radio stations | |
Radio Free Iraq (Arabic إذاعة العراق الحرّ,) was a radio station in Baghdad , Iraq. It was operated by the US foreign media bureau , the International Broadcasting Bureau (IBB) , and broadcast a 24 hour program in Arabic consisting of news and music. The content was produced at Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty in Prague .
history
The idea of starting a US-funded radio station in Iraq came from the Heritage Foundation , a Washington-based conservative think tank . It is said to be part of the psychological warfare of US interests in the country and was supported by the 1998 Republican-led Congress. The head of the then Iraqi opposition party Iraqi National Congress (INC) Ahmed Chalabi supported such a station. On March 23, 1998 US the Senate approved with the Bill S. 1768 a sum of 5 million USD for Radio Liberty / Radio Free Europe , which was to operate Radio Free Iraq.
Radio Free Iraq went on the air on October 30, 1998 with a small fanfare. The founding director was Jeffrey Gedmin, a former employee of the Heritage Foundation.
In 2015, RFE / RL announced the transformation of the station to Radio Sawa Iraq , as the regional service of Radio Sawa. Radi Sawa is the de facto Arabic service of the Voice of America. Radio Free Iraq stopped broadcasting on July 31, 2015.
Distribution channels
RFI, today Radio Sawa, broadcasts in Baghdad on VHF 102.4 MHz.