Filmmakers expose the radical ideologists indoctrinating thousands of jihadists.
Told from the perspective of Muslim leaders in select African countries where feasible, directors François Margolin and Lemine Ould M. Salem expose a behind the scenes look at terrorist theology informed by Islam. “Jihadists” tells an uncomfortable story about the chasms that still divide the human race.
Early on, the documentary shadows two armed men on a motorcycle making the rounds in a Timbuktu community. A sign outside town indicates that Sharia law applies here. The two men admonish several women selling goods in the marketplace to put veils over their faces, and they readily comply. Another sign in town directs that the application of Sharia is the pathway to happiness, the pathway to Paradise.
This opening provides a hint at what follows as the filmmakers interview members of the Salafi movement, which invokes a return to the conservative traditions of the first three generations of Muslims. In these societies, the police keep an eye on everyone. The enforcers comment that if they notice a sin, they act wisely, benevolently – whether it’s forty lashes for consuming alcohol or cutting off the right hand for thievery.
Any synthesis addressing the commentary by the Imams can only scratch the surface. Perhaps ironically, the speakers often depict contrasts between Islam on the one hand, and Christianity and Judaism on the other, despite the fact that all three religions contain roots in the Old Testament.
Much of the discussion regarding the motivations of these tribes stems from the injustices associated with colonization by western powers. One spokesperson references the French occupation of Algeria, where indigenous residents received no reparations after independence. Other examples of colonial exploitation abound for anyone inclined to undertake a little research. As John Perkins, author of ‘Confessions of an Economic Hit Man’ has noted, one man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter.
Although the U.S. would argue it does not colonize other nations, declassified documents clearly indicate that CIA coups engineered by their covert armies regularly ousted democratically elected governments after World War II. Further, the U.S. now maintains nearly 800 military bases in more than 70 countries across the globe. The math speaks for itself.
Perhaps not surprisingly, the jihadist interviewees lack much semblance of political correctness – to put things mildly. They reject equality between men and women on its face, noting for example, that the testimony of one male is worth that of two females. Similarly, the jihadist representatives openly condemn the lifestyle of homosexuality, followed by graphic depictions of executions – tossing two men from the top of a building, for example – to bring home the point.
Yet their rhetoric demonstrates parallels we may prefer to deny. The Salafi Muslims advocate a return to the source of Islam – words that may ring familiar since fundamentalist Christians espouse a literal interpretation of the Bible’s original text. Regardless, adherents of both faiths demonstrate a capacity for terrorist acts.
Perhaps the most startling aspect of the documentary is the extraordinary access granted to Margolin and Salem. Although some territories remained inaccessible under pain of death – in one case for mispronouncing a name – the interviews obtained offer a perspective that few people see.
The film juxtaposes commentary by Margolin, on-camera interviews, and Islamic State propaganda – all to good effect. On a minor production note, the subtitles frequently blend into the onscreen images, which sometimes makes for difficult reading.
“Jihadists” vividly reveals the ideological and cultural divide between fundamentalist Islam and western society, and the film contains several scenes most people will find difficult to watch. Yet, if we want to understand the world as it truly exists – as opposed to how we might prefer or where our bias leads us, we must start by opening our eyes.
“Jihadists” is available to buy on DVD at http://cinemalibrestudio.com/jihadists/
Available on DVD April 2nd
