Rojek (2023) Directed by Zanye Akyol 7A (documentary)
Canada's submission to this year's Oscars for international film took me totally by surprise. Rojek is a documentary that focuses on Syria Kurdistan after the defeat of ISIS. In what appears to be an internment camp, several of jihadists are interviewed interspersed with footage of what is going on elsewhere in the camp where people continue to remain vigilant and prepare for more turmoil. Documentarian Zanye Akyol films these guys (and, surprisingly, gals) talking about why they do what they do. She just lets them tell their story. And many of the stories are chilling. Guys talk about their families, one even talks about pop songs. But, later, some of these same guys also talk about setting off car bombs, assassinating civilians and executing prisoners of war. The common thread among them is their fanatical fundamentalist belief that Islam demands jihad, demands that its followers kill heathens and non-believers as a duty to their religion. None of them regretted their personal action, nor saw themselves as responsible for their actions. After all, it was what their iman and other spiritual advisers told them to do as a duty to their faith. They were all confident that they would be rewarded in heaven for their loyalty to the Prophet while on Earth. As is true of other aggressive religious fundamentalists as well, the more fervour displayed in belief of an authoritarian god-figure, the more willing that person is to do horrible things to others in the name of blindly followed scripture.
I learned a lot about jihadism that I didn't know, which is a big benefit of Rojek. I was surprised by how diverse the ISIS soldiers were--it broke the stereotype that I had about Islam extremists. None of these people were foaming at the mouth; oddly and for whatever reason (torture?), all of them seemed to be willing to talk about their actions and beliefs, only clamming up when questions about wives came up. One prisoner said that if another man asked his wife's name, he would shoot him as a matter of honour. On the other hand, many of them seemed pretty normal people except for the hatred that their religion has provided against others who do not share their view of morality. I also found out that the ostensible good guys, the Syrian Kurdistan army units, had female regiments and, at least one woman seemed to hold a position of some power in the military hierarchy--including as an interrogator. Another female jihadist boasted she never felt freer than she was in the field, her fanaticism as fervent as her male counterparts. Near the end, one of the guys offered a thoughtful take on why he believed jihad would never end...that there was no mechanism in existence that would allow it to end. He said this with resignation, not anger. As much as I would argue with him regarding everything else, It is hard to disagree with him on that one.
Canada's submission to this year's Oscars for international film took me totally by surprise. Rojek is a documentary that focuses on Syria Kurdistan after the defeat of ISIS. In what appears to be an internment camp, several of jihadists are interviewed interspersed with footage of what is going on elsewhere in the camp where people continue to remain vigilant and prepare for more turmoil. Documentarian Zanye Akyol films these guys (and, surprisingly, gals) talking about why they do what they do. She just lets them tell their story. And many of the stories are chilling. Guys talk about their families, one even talks about pop songs. But, later, some of these same guys also talk about setting off car bombs, assassinating civilians and executing prisoners of war. The common thread among them is their fanatical fundamentalist belief that Islam demands jihad, demands that its followers kill heathens and non-believers as a duty to their religion. None of them regretted their personal action, nor saw themselves as responsible for their actions. After all, it was what their iman and other spiritual advisers told them to do as a duty to their faith. They were all confident that they would be rewarded in heaven for their loyalty to the Prophet while on Earth. As is true of other aggressive religious fundamentalists as well, the more fervour displayed in belief of an authoritarian god-figure, the more willing that person is to do horrible things to others in the name of blindly followed scripture.
I learned a lot about jihadism that I didn't know, which is a big benefit of Rojek. I was surprised by how diverse the ISIS soldiers were--it broke the stereotype that I had about Islam extremists. None of these people were foaming at the mouth; oddly and for whatever reason (torture?), all of them seemed to be willing to talk about their actions and beliefs, only clamming up when questions about wives came up. One prisoner said that if another man asked his wife's name, he would shoot him as a matter of honour. On the other hand, many of them seemed pretty normal people except for the hatred that their religion has provided against others who do not share their view of morality. I also found out that the ostensible good guys, the Syrian Kurdistan army units, had female regiments and, at least one woman seemed to hold a position of some power in the military hierarchy--including as an interrogator. Another female jihadist boasted she never felt freer than she was in the field, her fanaticism as fervent as her male counterparts. Near the end, one of the guys offered a thoughtful take on why he believed jihad would never end...that there was no mechanism in existence that would allow it to end. He said this with resignation, not anger. As much as I would argue with him regarding everything else, It is hard to disagree with him on that one.
Last edited:
