1. Skip to content
  2. Skip to main menu
  3. Skip to more DW sites
Live TV
Latest audioLatest videos
In focus
Israel-Hamas warUkraineOktoberfest
Politics

Paradise Lost

June 24, 2022

Fifty years ago, the entire population of the Chagos Islands was expelled by British authorities. Now, exiled Chagossians want their homeland back.

https://p.dw.com/p/4A8fo
Stills aus der Doku "Das verlorene Paradies"
Image: Andana
Stills aus der Doku "Das verlorene Paradies"
Image: Andana

After the break-up of the Mauritian archipelago shortly before the independence of Mauritius, Britain leased the largest island to the United States in 1966. The US subsequently built a naval base there. This caused about 1,500 people to be forcibly resettled between 1967 and 1973. The lease agreement has been extended until 2036.


But as early as 2019, the International Court of Justice condemned Britain’s actions as a violation of a people’s right to self-determination. Now, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea has ruled that the Chagos Islands be returned to Mauritius. But so far, Britain has refused to give in.

Stills aus der Doku "Das verlorene Paradies"
Image: Andana


Nevertheless, Chagossians living in exile are fighting to return to their homeland. Sabrina Jean is a dynamic activist leading the fight on behalf of those affected, and striving to keep alive the hope that they may finally be able to return home.



Braodcasting Hours: 

Stills aus der Doku "Das verlorene Paradies"
Image: Andana

DW English

FRI 24.06.2022 – 01:15 UTC
FRI 24.06.2022 – 04:15 UTC
FRI 24.06.2022 – 18:15 UTC
SAT 25.06.2022 – 12:15 UTC
SAT 25.06.2022 – 15:15 UTC
SUN 26.06.2022 – 19:15 UTC
MON 27.06.2022 – 09:15 UTC

Lagos UTC +1 | Cape Town UTC +2 I Nairobi UTC +3
Delhi UTC +5,5 I Bangkok UTC +7 | Hong Kong UTC +8
London UTC +1 | Berlin UTC +2 | Moscow UTC +3
San Francisco UTC -7 | Edmonton UTC -6 | New York UTC -4

DW Deutsch+

MON 27.06.2022 – 09:15 UTC

Vancouver UTC -7 | New York UTC -4 | Sao Paulo UTC -3