In the recent past the IS group seems to have focused mostly on online media and various social media networks to get its messages out to the world. But locally this propaganda war seems to have shifted to a less digital level. Listeners can hear all about the IS group and its preparations for battle at a very low cost – they don’t need to pay for the Internet –and in many sites around the frontlines.
Radio Imam has been broadcasting since September 2015 and its signal reaches well into the areas surrounding Mosul. Shows run for 24 hours and are broadcast in Arabic. Parts of the shows are given over to reciting the Koran and to advising people on spiritual matters.
But most of the broadcasts are about waging holy war on behalf of the Islamic State group, encouraging listeners to fight the army, whether Iraqi or Kurdish and broadcasting news about the IS group’s “victories” while downplaying the significance of anti-IS victories.
NIQASH was able to tune into one of Radio Imam’s shows while in the Makhmour district, about 50 kilometres southeast of Mosul, on an ordinary radio. During the show, the announcer explained why holy war was a duty for the faithful and why pious salespeople shouldn’t cheat ordinary people and make extra money.
To counter Radio Imam’s message, the anti-IS forces in this area, known as the Ninawa Liberation Operations Command, launched their own radio broadcast in January this year. This Iraqi army outpost is positioned here in preparation for the coming fight over Mosul; it is composed of the Iraqi army’s 15th division, made up of several brigades.
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