Al Baghdadia Media Group encompasses several TV channels, newspapers, and websites, in addition to activities in the field of human rights, philanthropy and anti-corruption.
Founded by Iraqi businessman, the engineer, Dr Awn Hussein Al-Khashlok, on the 12th of September 2005, launching their first branch, Al-Baghdadia satellite channel. The channel was the successor of the Al-Furat newspaper, which is one of the first independent Iraqi newspapers issued after the American invasion of Iraq.
The presence of media embraces the mission of intellectual awareness and assistance to Iraqis, Sunnis, Shiites, Christians, Sabians, Yazidis, Shabaks, and all other religions and ethnicities. Its vision is to overcome the ordeal of isolation from the rest of the world faced under Saddam’s regime. Dr Awn Hussein Al-Khashlok began directing and financing several charitable activities across Iraq and other nations were Iraqis sought asylum. Returning to his country after the occupation, it was apparent that the dictatorship had left the citizens uninformed and unaware of the political climate the country was facing. He felt its influence exceeded that of the invasion as it affected the people’s hope for the future. His mission was to ensure that Iraq becomes more globalized and move forward with the rest of the world.
Fear of the future has deepened; Ba’athist propaganda and Saddam’s dictatorship does not differ from those who use religion for personal gain after the occupation. Seeing the declining political state of Iraq, Dr Al-Khashlok promised the nation to protect them from the harshness of the past, the corruption of the present and the unknown of the future. He created a large edifice for free media aimed at enlightening and educating, spreading a culture of law and human rights, fighting corruption, and employing advanced technology in media work. He embraces the rule of freedom of expression and the defence of the rights of the country, the citizen, the opinions of both sides, as a method for all the Group’s ventures, which he directly supervises.
Iraq’s affairs occupy the largest area of Al-Baghdadia Group’s work, news and political analysis through an extensive network of correspondents in all regions of Iraq, even remote and outside it, as well as dialogue programs and seminars, documentaries, articles and polls for public opinion on political events and changes in Iraq and the region in the context of adhering to the national position and aligning with the affairs of the wider Iraqi diaspora. Citizens are the most important party in the political equation after their interests have been neglected by the ruling parties and political blocs. This trend formed an honour pact for the work of Al-Baghdadia Group, which announced its implementation and applied it effectively with courage and without discrimination of citizens or favouring political forces in the country. The Group’s values led it to become the leading channel in Iraq for monitoring government performance, combating corruption and protecting the country’s emerging democracy from significant setbacks in the political process.
The Group had a deep affinity to the history of Iraq in terms of culture, arts and science, and provided various coverage and drama chronicling the most important stages of Iraq’s history and that of its people. Various programs cater to covering the needs of the Iraqi citizen, which included information, scientific material, and entertainment as well as genuine political opinions and debates. Al-Baghdadia’s approach is based on the four principles that has not changed:
No to occupation.
No to dictatorship.
No to corruption.
No to terrorism.
These are deemed to be the pillars of evil that have taken the country hostage, exposing the Iraqi people to poverty, external influence, and terrorism. Al-Baghdadia became a beacon of light, reform, change and ensured there the state was held accountable for its absence and impotence, and foremost the corruption within the government.
Al Baghdadia Group has become more involved in confronting evil and falsehood in Iraq in an open conversation, by exposing corrupt individuals using legitimate sources and inviting the people to demand their rights. The exploitation of religion has been a thorn in Iraq’s progress, using the names of Imams and Prophets to cause harm to the nation, not only impairing Iraq’s unity, but clouding the judgement of the next generation as well. Al Baghdadia’s vision is to bolster Iraq’s union and to ensure its people have a deep understanding of each other’s beliefs, creeds, and backgrounds.
With the strength of the people and the truth, Al-Baghdadia faced this deviant trend in Iraq, and took the principle of Hussein, peace be upon him, “be free in your world”, a message to reinforce the path of truth and spread a spirit of self-belief amongst the Iraq’s citizens. Al-Baghdadia’s role has threatened the ruling class by exposing the abhorrent corruption in the political establishment.
The determination of delivering the news and holding those responsible accountable has kept the channel as one of the leading beacons for Iraq’s future.
Even with the channel going through temporary hiatus to broadcasting, it’s message and ideals live on with the people, to not be taken advantage of, not to accept the status quo, to believe in a better future and to dream of a prosperous free Iraq.
