The Islamic State (Vice News documentary)
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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"The Vice reporter Medyan Dairieh was embedded with Isis as it took control of the city of Raqqa in Syria "[1] |
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The Islamic State (2014) is a Vice News documentary film by Medyan Dairieh on the Islamic State. It won a Peabody Award.
See also
- Abu Mosa, press officer IS
- Abu Obida, hisbah officer
- Abdullah the Belgian
See also
The Road to Fallujah (2016)
Subtitles
(Arabic): The sniper is based there.
We Muslims are the ones who want to enforce Sharia in this land.
I swear to God, who is the only God,
that Sharia can only be established with weapons.
I'd like to join the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria and [die] with them
because they kill infidels and apostates.
[VICE NEWS THE ISLAMIC STATE]
[June 2014, Raqqa, Syria]
-Here it is. -Above your head.
Shoot, shoot, shoot.
Shoot, shoot, shoot.
(narrator) This is Raqqa,
the capital of the world's newest declared state.
The state that has been established by a hardline Sunni jihadist group
that emerged out the mayhem of the Syrian civil war.
Until recently, they were known as ISIS.
Now, they simply call themselves the Islamic State, or I.S.
The speed and efficiency
with which they advanced from Syria into Iraq
caught the world and many of those reporting by surprise.
... The lightning advance of ISIS in Iraq.
President Obama's foreign policy is
maybe under attack like never before.
Howit was possible for this group ISIS to sort of sweep in to western Iraq?
They captured the cities of Mosul and Tikrit,
robbing local banks and seized large amounts of weapons
provided to the Iraqi military by the United States.
Growing in numbers, its fighters have come from all over the world.
all wanting to be a part of the Caliphate,
an Islamic state that now stretches through Syria and Iraq.
And they say this is just the beginning.
Little is known about the inner workings of the group,
but VICE News filmmaker Medyan Dairieh got exclusive access
to the power [ways] in Iraq.
Here in Raqqa,
IS is fending off daily air strikes of the Assad regime
and laying seige to a military base
that's being defended by the largest government force
left tin Eastern Siria, the Army 17th Division.
Islamic State press officer, Abu Mosa, said
he would take VICE to see the front lines.
(Arabic): There will be a bridge in front of us,
then we will face a barrier of sandbags,
where the regime sniper is positioned.
Nothing will happen to us, God willing.
Two brothers [IS fighters] and many civilians got Killed there.
They usually attack us with 23mm guns,
snipers, BKS machine guns and mortars.
The regime uses all kinds of weaponry; they don't care.
(narrator) The Syrian army has blocked the main highway
and the only alternative means driving into the sight of a regime sniper.
(Arabic): It is that tall building to the right,
it's a sugar factory.
That one.
The sniper is based there, you can't see it with the camera yet.
So now we're facing the sniper.
That [building] is the housing for officers of the 17th Division.
That [building] is the sugar factory where they are based.
This area is dangerous.
[REGIME CONTROLLED; ISIS CONTROLLED]
(narrator) Situated just over a mile from the city center, the Division 17th base,
is the last, remaing stronghold of Assad's forces
in the surrounding area.
(Arabic): Those are regime positions.
There's the regime flag. There is one on that tall building.
This whole area belongs to the regime.
-Are we still exposed to sniper?
-Yes, he goes up that metal tower and fires from there.
(narrator) The first stop is an Islamic State checkpoint
within the range of the 17th Division base.
(Arabic): - The wall with the holes, is that where the regime sodiers are?
- No, in the buildings further back.
- How far is the regime from here? - 400 meters.
- I say to America
that the Islamic Caliphate has been established.
And we will not stop.
Don't be cowards and attack us with drones.
Instead, send your soldiers, the ones we humiliated in Iraq.
We will humiliate the everywhere, God willing,
and we will raise the flag of Allah in the White House.
(narrator) They move further forward, closer to the Syrian army.
One of the fighters of the group starts firing at the enemy's positions.
Coming under returned fire,
press officer Abu Mosa and another fighter join the exchange.
This [belligerent] outpost of the Syrian army Division
wasn't giving up without a fight.
They kept returning fire
as Abu Mosa and the group headead out in the trenches.
(Arabic): - The brothers are encamped around the 17th Division
on all four sides.
So they can stop any [enemy] infiltration.
Thank God they are trapped,
they can't get any supplies through except by parachutes.
- So the regime's forces are besieged on all sides?
- Yes.
- They are infidels,
they are the enemies of the religion, the enemies of God,
the enemies of humanity and religion.
Praise be to God, we open fire on them.
We ask God to grant us victory over them.
(narrator) A few weeks later,
IS launched a large scale offensive against the 17th Division.
They overran the base, killing at least 50 regime soldiers.
Their corpses were displayed in downtown Raqqa,
their heads mounted on fence posts.
It sent a clear message that the city is firmly under IS control.
under the command of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
(Arabic): Indeed, God is powerful and exalted in might,
and in combat with the enemies of God, he granted his followers success
and empowered them to fulfill their purpose.
And if you desire what God has promised, then set out in jihad for his cause.
(narrator) Although this was the only known public appearance of Al-Baghdadi,
his influence is growing.
[Al-Fordos Mosque, Raqqa]
(Arabic): - Your leader, [Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi],
is a descendant of Hussein and the tribe of the Prophet.
We ought to love the family of the Prophet.
You have to support him by paying your money.
sacrificing your life and anything you can do.
In the name of God the merciful, we swear allegiance.
- We swear allegiance.
- To the prince of the Faithful. - To the prince of the Faithful.
- And the Caliph of the Muslims. - And the Caliph of the Muslims.
- Abu Bakr al-Qurashi. - Abu Bakr al-Qurashi.
-Takbir. - God is great.
-Takbir. - God is great.
-Takbir. - God is great.
(narrator) This was a message clearly resonated with the crowd on hand.
(Arabic): - The Prophet said,
"You have to swear allegiance to a Caliph before you die."
Thanks be to God,
we swear to listen and obey the Caliph, Abu Bakr Al-Husseini al-Qurashi.
We wish to [join] him and his soldiers,
a soldier for the Islamic State and raise the flag
of "No God but Allah, and Mohammed is the messenger of God."
I'm here to swear allegiance to the prince of the Faithful, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi,
to establish an Islamic Caliphate.
- Where are you from? - I am from the countryside of Aleppo.
I came today to swear allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi al-Quashi.
- How old are you? - I'm 11 years old.
(narrator) As IS swept through Syria and Iraq
seizing more and more territory by force,
the battle fro people's hearts and minds became
another important part of their overall strategy.
It's a job that their press officer, Abu Mosa takes very seriously.
(Arabic): - The war has been going on for a while,
don't you have any free time to spend it with the family?
- To be honest, no. In my case, no.
In the last few Eid celebrations,
I told my children that I will not buy any sweets for Eid.
until the children of Daraa and Homs are able to celebrate too.
I don't return home for pleasure,
I only go when it's important or I'm sick.
I don't, I don't go at all.
- Does that mean you live for war all the time?
- Yes.
The family, honestly, is the least important thing.
There is a higher purpose.
No one would defend Muslims if we all sat at home with the family.
We are of the media office,
we are going to film near the Euphrates River,
Why don't you come with the preaching car and meet us there?
Where are you going?
Next to the new bridge on the Euphrates. We are going to film there.
Wait for me until I coordinate with Sheikh Abu al-Bara'a.
We ar fighters.
I swear, I hope for hardship.
We don't want a happy life and trips, the opposite,
such things take us away from God.
The harder the situation is, the closer we are to God.
The Euphrates River, Raqqa, Syria
The key part for the battle for Iraq in Syria is the control of the water supply.
In June of this year, Turkey closed their dam on the Euphrates,
significantly reducing the drinking water and hydroelectric power
that both Syria and Iraq badly need.
(Arabic): I pray to God that the apostate [Turkish] government
reconsiders its decisions.
Because if they don't reconsider it now,
we'll reconsider it for them by liberating Istanbul.
- Is this a threat? - Yes, this is a clear threat.
God willing, if they don't open the dam, we'll open it from Istanbul.
(narrator) The man in the preaching van
that the media team had requested over the radio
had also arrived.
Abdullah the Belgian, as they call him,
traveled to the Caliphate from Belgium with his young son.
(Arabic) - Are people responding to you?
Yes, many, many, many people are responding.
especially the young men.
- My name is Adbullah. - Raise your voice.
- Adullah.
- Are you from Belgium or the Islamic State?
Talk to him, tell him you're from the Islamic State.
- The Islamic State.
- Do you want to go back to Belgium? Why?
What is over there? - Infidels.
- Infidels.
- What do we have here? - The Islamic State.
- The Islamic State.
- Do you like the Islamic State? Are you sure? - Yes.
- What do you want to be, a jihadist or to execute a maryrdom operation?
- A jihadist.
- Why do we kill the infidels? Stand up. What have the infidels done?
- What have the infidels done? - They kill Muslims.
Because they kill Muslims.
- All the infidels? Like the infidels of Europe?
The infidels of Europe, all the infidels.
God willing, the Caliphate has been established,
and we are going to invade you, as you invaded us.
We will capture your women as you captured our women.
We will orphane your children, as you orphaned our children.
- Takbir. - God is great.
- Takbir. - God is the greatest.
- Takbir. - God is great.
- I swear to God my brothers,
we are living in joy that I can't describe.
For us, we believe that this generation of children,
is the generation of the Caliphate.
God willing, this generation will fight infidels and apostates,
the Americans and their allies, God willing.
The right doctrine has been implanted into these children.
All of them love to fight for the sake of building the Islamic State
and for the sake of God.
- How old are you? - Nine.
- Who do you fight with? - The Islamic State.
- Where are you going after Ramadam? - To the camp.
- Why? - To have training.
-Training for what? - The Russian [Kalashnikov rifle].
- What are you going to do after that? - To fight the Russians...
America. The infidels.
- Aren't you quite young? Do you know how to you a gun?
Have you shot a gun before? - Yes.
- Those under 15 go to Sharia camp to learn about their creed and religion.
Those over 16, they can attend the military camp.
- Do they participate in military operations?
- Yes, those who are over 16,
and were previously enrolled in the camps can participate in military operations.
Because Osama Ibn Zaid [adopted son of Muhammad] led an army
when he was of 17 or 18.
He led an army against the Romans.
In the name of God, my name is Daoud, and I'm 14 years old.
I'd like to join the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria and kill with them.
Because they fight infidels and apostates.
The Islamic state has done nothing wrong nor will, God willing.
We love the Islamic State.
Caliphate celebration in Raqqa, Syria
The Islamic State was established with the blood of the truthful.
♪ My Ummah, dawn is looming, and with it will come the victory ♪
(narrator) This gathering to celebrate the creation of the Caliphate
was one of the many across the city organized by the Islamic State.
These events also serve as an important recruitment opportunity.
(Arabic): The ones who haven't broken their fast,
I can give you some food so you can. They deserve the best, God willing.
You're welcome to the first festival after the declaration of the Islamic Caliphate.
-Takbir! -God is great.
-Say it louder.Takbir. -God is great.
-You are good, God bless you.
My dear Muslims, this is a great time to be proud of being a Muslim.
This is the time when the establishment of the Islamic Caliphate was announced.
Dear Raqqa families,
I call you to support this state.
I send a message to the enemy and the hypocrites.
This state will state against the will of hypocrites.
This state will state against your will, you secular people.
♪ Oh, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, you terrify the enemies ♪
♪ Beautiful virgins are calling, enroll me as a martyr ♪
I live in Europe for 25 years,
but I always wanted to come to Muslim lands.
We left our children, and we left our pretty women,
we said goodbye to them,
we came to the land of honor and jihad,
this is where I feel at ease, 100%.
I noticed that only children say hello to us
and they send us kisses from far away.
When old people look at us with a frightened look,
They don't know that we are the best people on the planet.
After the prophets, come the Mujahideen.
- Takbir. - God is great.
(narrator) The event took a lighter turn,
as IS displayed its tallest and shortest fighter.
(Arabic): Who has a bigger hand?
Answer honestly, who is taller, me or him?
(narrator) As the event drew to a close, the crowd was asked to join
in a pledge of allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
(Arabic): - We pledge allegiance to... - We pledge allegiance to...
- ...the Prince of the Faithful. - ...the Prince of the Faithful.
- Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. - Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
- When I shot, "the Caliphate," you say, "established."
- The Caliphate ... - ... established.
- Louder. The Caliphate ... - ... established.
- Louder. The Caliphate ... - ... established.
- Louder. The Caliphate ... - ... established.
♪ My regards to the State and its supporters who protect it ♪
(narrator) After taking control of the Syrian city of Raqqa in March of 2013,
The Islamic State has also taken the role
of governing every aspect of daily life under strict interpretation of Sharia.
This Islamic law covers everything;
from high crime to civil disagreements
to economics and even personal behavior,
such as diet, prayer and public appearance.
Now, what was once a very westernized city
is patrolled 24 hours a day by armed men known as the Hisbah.
who travel throughout the city enforcing their mandate.
Vice News joined Hisbah patrol leader Abu Obida during Ramadan,
as they headed to the local market.
(Arabic): My purpose is to establish the Caliphate.
And in order to make it happen in the name of the Prophet,
we have to teach others what to do and what not to do.
Wait a moment, please.
Peace be upon you, my brother.
A moment, please.
- How are you?
- It is to shade us from the sun, honestly. I swear.
- Do not use this kind of image. We want an Islamic street. We are Muslims.
- We do not want infidels. We want to oppose infidels.
If you put this photo up, it means you like infidels.
Bless you, but we have beliefs.
- You must remove picture. - OK, God willing.
- God bless you.
In regards to alcohol I challenge you to find a single drunk person.
I challenge you to find anyone selling alcohol.
They are afraid of even having it in their house, as we get reports on that.
We are still fighting infidels with our machine guns,
but we have to face these vices as well.
Stop next to this guy.
Peace be upon you my brother. Come here for a moment, please.
Peace be upon you. How are you my brother?
- Is she your wife? -Yes, God willing.
First of all, tell her to change the fabric of her veil.
And second, tell her not to hold her gown up,
because we can see what she is wearing underneath.
She is your wife, my brother, preserve her. Bless you.
We told him: "This is your wife.
She shouldn't be on display. Is she a product?
Is she your wife, or are you sharing her with people?
It doesn't make sense to share her with people. Aren't you a Muslim?"
God ordered women to wear a veil, we didn't invent that.
So, we advise in a nice way, but those who don't obey will be forced.
-Licorice!
(narrator) On this day, the Hisbah must pay particularly close attention
that people are following the rules regarding the holy month of Ramadan.
Amongst other things, this means
that eating, drinking and smoking are forbidden each day until sundown.
(Arabic): - Don't drink. - Do you want to drink?
- No, my brother.
- What do you think about Hisbah?
- Those who do something wrong are responsible for their actions,
for example smoking or being late for prayer.
- So, are you okay with what they do? - Yes, sure.
Because we haven't done anything wrong,
each person is responsible for his actions, not Hisbah.
- Peace be upon you. Come over here.
You look a bit tired.
Is this full of gas, or water?
Because some of them come half-filled with water.
- No. - You don't do it?
- No. - Do you know what I'm talking about?
- They fill it half with water, then they put gas in it.
- The ones I sell are guaranteed and sealed.
- What you have is guaranteed.
(narrator) A large part of the Hisbah role
is also assuring that shops and stores throughout the city are trading fairly.
The patrol goes door to door inspecting products, practices, and prices.
(Arabic): - Move back.
And surely you sell sheep as if it was beef,
and beef as if it was sheep.
You sell both together, no?
Why is beef the same price as sheep?
- Sometimes it comes like that, the same price as sheep.
- Why?
- Because there is very little profit.
- You mean there is little profit from sheep.
- How much is one kilo of sheep meat?
- Sheep meat by itself is 9 dollars.
- Beef is 8 dollars.
- Yes, but I also sell sheep meat for 8 dollars, when mixed with beef.
- Does that work out for you?
-Yes.
- But do you see the beef for 9 dollars?
- No.
-OK, God bless you.
(narrator) On his way out,
Abu Obida is approached by a small group of men.
(Arabic): We have a request, if you can tell the councilor, or mayor,
to release the man who was arrested from the street next to his stall.
- Who?
- A man who was selling here, they took him.
- Was it a Hisban car? - No.
- Was it an official car? - Yes.
Let him go free, for the sake of God, it's Ramadan brother.
He was selling juice here and was arrested for causing a traffic jam.
He has been arrested for a week, since the first day of Ramadan.
The whole neighborhood would tell you that he's a good man.
OK, but we are Hisbah, we are not responsible for that.
You can go to the office of the magistrate and you make a claim there.
We want you to deliver our message to the councilor.
Our voices are not being heard, your voice will be heard.
Your voices are heard and you can even meet him.
It's in the court.
If you were oppressed by one of our men,
you can go and make a claim there.
(narrator) Breaking the Islamic Law in Raqqa, brings you here,
where prisoners await both sentencing and punishment.
The Hisbah patrol men encourage
the prisoners to talk to out camera.
Under such pressure, it is hard to know if their contribution was sincere.
(Arabic): I was brought here because they found alcohol in my house.
I was brought because I wasn't fair to myself.
- Did anyone informed on you?
- No, no one. I was caught red-handed.
By being here, I became more aware.
I wasn't praying before, now I pray and fast.
Thank God I went back to practicing my religion.
Thanks to these guys.
