In recent years, the flow of refugees from conflict zones towards Europe has increased. Despite the fact that Iraq has a long history of conflict, by no means is there fighting everywhere. Why do some make the decision to make the dangerous crossing by sea and others choose to stay behind in Iraq? In al-Lazzaka, a village south of Mosul and near Tikrit, Sakir explores what the word "home" still means when it has lost its positive meaning. Do you try to build a new, secure existence on the ruins of the wars, or do you try to start over elsewhere?

In the five-part series 'The Ruins of Iraq', made in co-production with VICE Studios, Dutch-Palestinian filmmaker Sakir Khader (1990), accompanied by his friend and field producer Mohamed Rasool, travels for six months in the Iraq that we don't get to see in the news. As a camjo director he speaks with Iraqi’s who were left behind in the places where the dust of four generations of war is slowly settling. How will their lives go on now that the ISIS caliphate has fallen and the danger seems to have passed?

Ever since former U.S. President George W. Bush Jr. began a campaign to end the rule of Saddam Hussein in 2003, the state of Iraq has been unstable. Bush promised the people freedom and democracy, but Iraqi’s faced waves of violence. In recent years, Iraq has been in the spotlight again because of the fight against ISIS. Militias, the Iraqi army and the international coalition began an offensive to put an end to the feared terror group. With IS no longer in territorial control, residents who experienced years of misery and bloodshed are left behind.

#iraq

VPRO Documentary publishes a new subtitled documentary weekly, investigating current affairs, finance, sustainability, climate change or politics. Subscribe to our channel, and we will be delighted to share our adventures with you!

This Channel is part of VPRO broadcast. Make sure to visit our additional youtube channels:
VPRO Metropolis:    / vprometropolis  
VPRO World Stories:    / vproworldstories   (no longer active)
VPRO Extra:    / @vproextra3443  
VPRO VG (world music):    / vrijegeluiden  
VPRO 3voor12 (alternative music):    / 3voor12  
VPRO 3voor12 extra (music stories):    / @3voor12extra7  

More info at https://www.VPRObroadcast.com