A number of video on YouTube address corruption in the Iraqi government. These clips generally do not attack a particular political bloc, but instead point to the defects in the structure of the Iraqi state. They are not created by the political parties, but by people such as Saadallah al-Khalidi, a young activist who hosts a YouTube channel to which he posts videos and programs that expose corruption in state institutions.

Khalidi works as a news photographer for several Iraqi TV channels and owns a small television production company that produces often critical political and social programs. Ahead of the national elections scheduled for April 30, Khalidi, who has been arrested by the security forces several times, is preparing videos to remind the public about the previous government’s transgressions. He produced a video accompanied by a rap song about the daily deaths in Iraq and the injustice faced by Iraqis because of government corruption.

Khalidi titled the video “18+” to indicate the ages of those who can vote, about 50% of all Iraqis. Khalidi told Al-Monitor, “Only the youth are being counted on to change the current political map, because they still have hope despite the despair that surrounds us.” He added, “The time has come for the government to respect its citizens. … Change must happen soon.”