Dateline: Nov 14

This week Dateline reports on Mosul: Life After IS after some three years of occupation.

The people of Mosul are re-adjusting to life after IS rule. But freedom doesn’t always bring security, and the people of Mosul face an uncertain future.

This week Dateline reporter Amos Roberts travels to Mosul, Iraq, to meet people trying to revive the city and its culture, in a place that‘s faced so much devastation. But what has befallen Mosul and what dangers lie ahead?

Mosul was a diverse, cosmopolitan city of immense historic and cultural importance. Under IS, the people of Mosul lived in a terrifying world in which you could be flogged, mutilated or even killed for using a mobile phone, smoking a cigarette or singing a song.

Apart from religious singing, all music was banned under IS. Teaching himself to play in secret, Khalid Waleed found solace in music – but it was also an act of rebellion against the nihilism of IS.

“My father and my mother always wanted me to stop playing. Stop, give up music. It’s not the right time. You’ll cause us problems. You’ll get us arrested. ‘But I couldn’t. I tried to quit“, Khalid tells Dateline.

But since victory was declared in July, Khalid said the city has seen change. “Perhaps some people continue to be fearful. They’ve become fearful, they keep thinking that IS still exists, they still keep the same old social customs of ‘No, this is forbidden, it’s shameful, it’s forbidden‘. But I can see that the youth have changed.“

It was especially tough for a single mum like beautician Jumana Najim Abdullah – women weren’t allowed outside without a male escort.

“When I’d take my daughter shopping, wearing burqas, according to the code they imposed on us, we would see them slaughtering people on the streets. So you had to feel terrified,“ Jumana tells Dateline.

In a world where women were punished for lifting their veil in order to eat and wearing the colour red, it’s no surprise that beauticians were banned. Jumana broke the rules and worked at home in secret to ensure she and her daughter Mariam didn’t starve.

“As far as I see it, beauty is a form of distinctiveness.They didn’t want anyone to be distinct, especially not women“, Jumana says.

She was caught by the Morality Police after a customer left without covering her face. Both Jumana and the woman’s husband – who was held responsible for his wife’s actions – were taken away to be flogged.

Islamic State captured Mosul in a matter of days in June, 2014 – it’s by far the largest city they’ve ever controlled. Iraqi forces, backed by US-led coalition, launched a major operation to retake the city last October and victory was declared on 11 July, 2017.

”The city is in ruins. There are scenes that have planted fear in our hearts. Sometimes, when I go to bed, I’m chased by nightmares. I dream I’m still living under IS. I’m walking around in a burqa, or I’ve forgotten it and the Morality Police will punish me. Even in my sleep I’m frightened“, Jumana tells Dateline.

Tuesday 14 November at 9.30pm on SBS.