REPORTER: Fouad Hady
GUIDE (Translation): This is one of the most dangerous areas when it comes to terrorism. We are speeding now because al-Qaeda is in the area. They stop the cars, gather the people they want - take them to one of the orchards and slaughter them with a knife.
Driving in Diyala is not for the faint hearted. We are on our way to meet up with a special unit of the Iraqi police. Their job is to hunt down al-Qaeda terrorists. Al-Qaeda use the farms in the area to try and store their weapons. The police have received a tip-off and are going to check this farm. They put their lives on the line every day, never sure what they will run into.
The Commander receives a message to pull back until they can attend with a bigger force. When I see this video I can understand their caution. This was filmed by al-Qaeda as they fought off police on another farm.
AL-QAEDA RECRUITS (Translation): We destroyed America with a civilian plane. The World Trade Centre became a pile of dirt.
This is from the same video, showing al-Qaeda recruits.
AL-QAEDA RECRUITS (Translation): Iraqi Police Apostasy and hypocrisy, we are coming to slaughter you - there will be no agreement.
But the police are well organised and well armed. This is a police raid on a local farm.
WOMAN (Translation): There were palm branches here.
SOLDIER (Translation): Palm branches?
SAMIR DIAB MOHAMED (Translation): Yes, all piled up. They found them.
SOLDIER (Translation): We removed grenades from your orchard.
MAN (Translation): Thank God, the workers work in the orchard.
SOLDIER (Translation): Just be careful, there would be more there, look.
MAN (Translation): We didn’t know about all this.
This woman and her sons were taken away. They are accused of being al-Qaeda members. At this press conference this son claims he was coerced by his mother. She sent his little brother to die as a suicide bomber.
SON (Translation): She kept pushing me to wear explosive belts so I left her and lived at my sister’s.
SOLDIER (Translation): So was she trying to convince you?
SON (Translation): Yes, strongly insisting.
SOLDIER (Translation): What would she say?
SON (Translation): “Wear the belt. You are a coward, you are a disgrace.” They would swear at me sir.
SOLDIER (Translation): Okay, with your brother… how did they convince him to wear it?
SON (Translation): They convinced him that he would have dinner with the Prophet. I’ve really no idea. He was nine years old, sir.
His mother Samir Diab Mohamed claims she was coerced by a man named Hamid.
SAMIR DIAB MOHAMED (Translation): He said “I want your son Ali.” I said “What for?” He said “Some business. I will bring him back.” I said “What? Tell me.”
I felt scared of this. He said “He will go there to paradise and come back to you.”
I refused and he beat me. I said “Take him.” He put it… He took him in the car. He got belts and they put the belt on him and took him in the car.
I wanted to speak to the Police Chief about the terrorists. This is Jamal Al Shammari.
JAMAL AL SHAMMARI (Translation): Some of them are doctors, some of engineers, some are university students and when you find young men of this age, you feel sorry for them for being involved with killings and these organisations. There is no doubt that we are fully capable and we can finish them off. In fact, they are totally annihilated and they have nothing left.
The Police Chief's claim that al-Qaeda is defeated is wrong. These are recent bombings. And this is the result of another blast - a car bomb that blew up Al Ham Madhi and her boy Yasir Iyad.
AL HAM MADHI (Translation): His injury on this side, his wound is very big.
REPORTER (Translation): There?
AL HAM MADHI (Translation): Yes, from the explosion. The internal injury here is very big. In his thigh.
REPORTER (Translation): Where did the shrapnel come from?
AL HAM MADHI (Translation): The bomb blew up on his side and the shrapnel went through the car door and into him through his thigh.
REPORTER (Translation): Through his thigh.
AL HAM MADHI (Translation): Yes. It smashed the pelvis and tore the bladder.
REPORTER (Translation): The pelvis and bladder.
AL HAM MADHI (Translation): Yes. When he sees his friends playing outside he starts crying, poor boy.
The family has sold their land and jewellery too, to meet the medical costs. They have even travelled overseas for treatment but no-one can help them.
REPORTER (Translation): As a mother, how do you feel?
AL HAM MADHI (Translation): When I see him like this, like when his friends got their certificates, I cried for him because he is not with them, and he was good at his studies. It’s a pity, his future is lost.
Wherever you travel in Diyala you can't escape the legacy of the war, and the terrorists. This is the farm of Abu Amjad.
ABU AMJAD (Translation): Come and see my disaster caused by the Americans and al-Qaeda. Come with me.
I notice there are no men in the group. They were guarding against al-Qaeda but then the Americans attacked. He says they killed 10 of his family, including women and children. But that wasn't the end.
ABU AMJAD (Translation): And an hour later the planes came and bombed our houses. They killed my two brothers, and our neighbours, father and son, and my sister’s husband - who is my cousin, and my other sister’s husband and two daughters, and here, our beautiful al-Qaeda organisation…. This is my brother’s widow. Al-Qaeda killed her husband in the Adham area.
REPORTER (Translation): As a mother and sister, how do you feel?
WOMAN (Translation): How can I describe my feelings? When I remember that day… sometimes I even lose my memory. These are my feelings.
ALI HASSAN (Translation): This is a photo with his friends at university. Here, at the shop, with his friends.
This is another family dealing with grief. Ali Hassan is describing his brother, a popular and influential member of the community.
ALI HASSAN (Translation): We had a strong relationship, not just brothers but friends, we agreed on everything. We agreed on work, on everything. He was my friend, really.
He was kidnapped by al-Qaeda from his barber shop. A move meant to terrorise the community.
ALI HASSAN (Translation): They came and took him and left.
REPORTER (Translation): Where was he working?
ALI HASSAN (Translation): Here. They took him and left.
REPORTER (Translation): Where were you?
ALI HASSAN (Translation): Here. When I saw the car coming, I hid here. Here.
REPORTER (Translation): And they didn’t see you?
ALI HASSAN (Translation): No. They took my brother and left.
REPORTER (Translation): Where did you find his head next day?
ALI HASSAN (Translation): At the front.
REPORTER (Translation): Where?
ALI HASSAN (Translation): At the front here.
REPORTER (Translation): Only the head?
ALI HASSAN (Translation): Yes. We haven’t found his body yet.
MOTHER (Translation): They said they found Hassan’s head near the shop. I mean, what can one say? Have you heard of someone going crazy? That day all of us went crazy.
REPORTER (Translation): Only his head.
MOTHER (Translation): Only his head. His hair was still the same, all neat, nothing out of place. You would say he wasn’t dead, he was there looking.
FATHER (Translation): I would say that they thought that this person with so much influence with the people, if we take this person, kidnap him and kill him, it will have an effect. And indeed, when they kidnapped him, slaughtered him and dumped his head the next day, the whole region – from Anbakeya to here, everyone fled.
As I moved around Diyala I heard about a woman with a remarkable tale to tell. She was forced at gunpoint to marry a terrorist. She doesn't want her name used.
REPORTER (Translation): So you knew he was in al-Qaeda and carried out operations…
WOMAN 2 (Translation): I knew he was in al-Qaeda, I knew that.
REPORTER (Translation): You couldn’t do anything?
WOMAN 2 (Translation): I could not. I had to shut up.
REPORTER (Translation): Under the threat of arms?
WOMAN 2 (Translation): Yes. I was scared of him.
REPORTER (Translation): How was his nature, his temperament?
WOMAN 2 (Translation): I told you I couldn’t say anything before, but now I can and I say an animal is better than him.
REPORTER (Translation): Was he violent?
WOMAN 2 (Translation): Yes. He was cruel to us. He made our lives miserable. We just could not understand him.
REPORTER (Translation): You couldn’t?
WOMAN 2 (Translation): No.
REPORTER (Translation): Did he feel for his children?
WOMAN 2 (Translation): No, no. He would just have children and go, throw food for us and leave. He would leave, carrying his gun, who he would shoot, we never knew.
REPORTER (Translation): You never knew.
WOMAN 2 (Translation): No.
The al-Qaeda terror seems even worse for women. Ashwaq Alkhali, is a journalist who wrote about the terrorists. She was kidnapped and held for 15 days and is now an exile in her own land.
ASHWAQ ALKHALI, JOURNALIST (Translation): In amongst all of that was the issue of rape.
REPORTER (Translation): You mean they raped you?
ASHWAQ ALKHALI (Translation): Yes, and what is more, several people took turns at it. This thing affected me so much. It was very hard – I didn’t go home after that, I stayed away from home for about three months. And then…
REPORTER (Translation): Why stay away from home?
ASHWAQ ALKHALI (Translation): Well, out of fear for my family, out of fear of traditions. I told you that our traditions and customs don’t accept such things.
REPORTER (Translation): So what happened with your parents? Didn’t you try to tell them the truth? That it happened against your will?
ASHWAQ ALKHALI (Translation): frankly, I tried, but the problem is that… they renounced me.
REPORTER (Translation): But it happened and you were forced to, at gunpoint. Were you beaten?
ASHWAQ ALKHALI (Translation): Of course. It is evident in that three of my teeth were broken – it still shows.
REPORTER (Translation): What do you do with your time?
ASHWAQ ALKHALI (Translation): I work at a restaurant. That is where I work. I work to sustain myself, not to rely on anyone. I then return home, I can’t buy anything, because I’m only staying for a short time in this house. What I do is try every now and then to change my address. It’s very difficult. What have I done wrong? I don’t know.
This is the house I live in, part of the house is empty - look in here - this is an empty room, go inside and look. It’s because of the fear inside of me that I can’t do anything. I always move from one place to another. And this is the room I stay in, you can see my suitcases, my mattress and a fan – that’s it. It is because I can’t really settle in one place, because I am scared they’d get to me and I am scared of the people outside.
I don’t feel safe unless I close the outer door and lock this one, before I sleep. Because actually… I have no trust or rather I lost trust in people. I don’t let the neighbours in and I have nothing to do with them. This is my life. I wish that people would hear me and get me out of this situation I’m in.
YALDA HAKIM: We're told that yesterday Ashwaq was able to escape Iraq and make her way to Turkey where she will seek asylum.
Reporter/Camera
FOUAD HADY
Producers
GEOFF PARISH
VICTORIA STROBL
Editors
WAYNE LOVE
NICK O’BRIEN
SUE BELL
Translations/Subtitling
JOSEPH ABDO
DALIA MATAR
Original Music Composed by
VICKI HANSEN