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Deep Dive: Recruiting for Jihad (2017)

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Recruiting for Jihad
Recruiting for Jihad is a 2017 documentary that focuses on Ubaydullah Hussain, the former spokesperson for the Salafi-jihadist group Profetens Ummah in Norway. The film follows Hussain over three years as he promotes Jihadism and recruits for ISIS. The narrative takes a significant turn when Norwegian authorities arrest Hussain for providing material support for terrorism, leading to the seizure of the documentary footage by the Norwegian Police Security Service as evidence. The filmmakers, Adel Khan Farooq and Ulrik Imtiaz Rolfsen, face legal battles to protect journalistic rights and confidential sources. Despite losing in lower courts, they ultimately win their case in The Supreme Court of Norway in November 2015. The film, initially set to air in 2015, was released on April 5, 2017, after a delay due to the legal issues surrounding the footage.

Why Watch

  • •Meet Ubaydullah Hussain, a key figure in Jihadism.
  • •Follow the legal battle over journalistic rights in Norway.
  • •See the impact of ISIS recruitment in Europe.

Did You Know

•Ubaydullah Hussain was arrested for terrorism-related charges in 2016.
•The Supreme Court of Norway ruled in favor of the filmmakers in November 2015.
•The documentary was awarded the Columbia Global Freedom of Expression Prize in 2015.
•The film was released on NRK on April 5, 2017, after a production halt.

Perfect For

Counter-terrorism studiesJournalism ethicsMiddle Eastern politics