"What do you want to be? A jihadist, or to execute a martyrdom operation?"
In the "caliphate" recently proclaimed by jihadists in Syria and Iraq, even young children are indoctrinated, and Sharia law is backed by the gun, according to a gripping documentary offering one of the first glimpses of life in Raqqa, power base of the so-called Islamic State (IS).
Part 1 of a five-episode series, The Islamic State, filmed by Anglo-Palestinian journalist Medyan Dairieh was released Thursday by New York-based Vice News.
The tone is set early: "Sharia can only be established with weapons," an IS fighter explains to Dairieh, who spent three weeks embedded with the radical Sunni group.
Dairieh, toting a video camera, gained "unprecedented access" to the organization, Vice News said.
In Raqqa, heavily-armed jihadists are seen celebrating on US armored vehicles seized during their advances in Iraq, while Sharia police patrol streets and markets with rifles over their shoulders.
Patrol chief Abu Obida orders traders to remove a poster showing "infidels," then blithely tells a man to change the fabric on his wife's veil.
"Those who don't obey will be forced," Obida explains.
In one gruesome scene, a crucified murder convict is displayed in the public square. In another, the bodies of Syrian 17th Division soldiers, killed by the jihadists during a recent offensive, are dumped on the sidewalk, their severed heads impaled on gate spikes.
"The Islamic caliphate has been established, and we will not stop," said IS press officer Abu Mosa.
A bearded man with a penchant for Ray-Ban sunglasses, Mosa accompanied Dairieh on his reporting and was shown shooting at Syrian soldiers during a skirmish.
He portrayed the group's fight as a battle against infidels like those in the West.
"Don't be cowards and attack us with drones. Instead send your soldiers, the ones we humiliated in Iraq," Mosa said of the Americans.
"We will humiliate them everywhere, God willing, and we will raise the flag of Allah in the White House."
Child training camps
Young boys look into the camera and pledge to take up the cause to "kill infidels."
A nine-year-old preparing for Kalashnikov rifle training said he was learning "to fight Russians -- umm, America."
"What do you want to be? A jihadist, or to execute a martyrdom operation?" a man identified as Abdullah the Belgian asked his six-year-old son.
"Jihadist," the boy replies, saying under prompting that infidels "kill Muslims."
Boys under 15 attend Sharia camp, while older ones learn military operations.
"We believe that this generation of children is the generation of the caliphate," said one man while children splashed in the Euphrates river.
"The right doctrine has been implanted in those children," he added. "All of them love to fight for the sake of building the Islamic State and for the sake of God."
Few women can be seen in the documentary; those who are shown wear the hijab.
Dairieh leads viewers through a courthouse where residents file complaints or wait on rulings from a Sharia judge on matters related to finance, alcohol use, adultery and other personal matters.
Asked if the process meets international standards, a clerk declares: "We aim to satisfy God, that's why we don't care about international standards."
Following a lightning offensive across Iraq in which IS was accused of numerous atrocities, the group on June 1 declared its caliphate from northern Syria to parts of eastern Iraq. Hundreds of thousands of people have fled.
Within days, jihadists advanced on autonomous Kurdistan, driving tens of thousands of minority Christians and non-Muslim Yazidis from their villages.
IS media coverage has been exceptionally rare due to security reasons. A New York Times report on the group last month did not identify its author or persons interviewed.
The brutal violence -- which has reportedly claimed the life of Mosa and another IS official since they were featured in the documentary -- makes Dairieh's time behind the IS veil extraordinary.
Kevin Sutcliffe, Vice News head of news programming for Europe, said Dairieh is likely "the only person they've let in for this amount of time."
The news outlet, part of Vice multimedia group, launched last December. Vice notably claimed a role in the 2013 "basketball diplomacy" which saw ex-NBA star Dennis Rodman travel to North Korea to meet leader Kim Jong-Un.
AFP
Sat Aug 23 2014
Shiite Muslim fighters from the Saraya al-Salam (Peace Brigades), a group formed by Iraqi Shiite Muslim cleric Moqtada al-Sadr and tasked with defending the holy sites of Shiite Islam. - AFP PHOTO / ALI AL-SAADI
Iran's supreme leader says Hamas leader's death will not halt 'Axis of Resistance'
The "Axis of Resistance", built up with years of Iranian support, includes Hamas, the Lebanese Hezbollah group, the Houthi movement in Yemen, and various Shi'ite groups in Iraq and Syria.
Putin says Russia willing to seek compromises between Iran and Israel
Russia is ready to help seek compromises between arch-foes Israel and Iran, President Vladimir Putin said on Friday, saying these would be difficult but possible.
What proposals will Russia push at the BRICS summit?
The proposal is also to establish a BRICS reinsurance company to allow uninterrupted shipment of goods and key commodities between members.
Indonesia's free meals plan in the spotlight as Prabowo readies for office
Prabowo calls the programme one of the main drivers of economic growth, eventually set to add an estimated 2.5 million jobs.
Astro AWANI's revamped English news website, AWANI International, launches on Oct 21
Astro AWANI's revamped English platform delivers in-depth global news and expert analysis to keep you informed on key developments.
Israeli strikes kill 33 people in Jabalia refugee camp in Gaza, medics say
Residents of Jabalia said Israeli tanks had reached the heart of the camp after pushing through suburbs and residential districts.
Liam Payne's ex-partner calls for media restraint after 'painful' death
Cheryl Tweedy used her statement to urge the media to remember they had a seven-year-old son, Bear, who could read the reports.
Analysts: Indonesia's strong MoF leadership team to boost investor confidence
Sri Mulyani Indrawati as head of Indonesia's Ministry of Finance is expected to instil confidence among investors.
Biden offers both a carrot and a stick to Israel as his term nears an end
Israel has frequently resisted US advice and has caused political difficulties for the Biden administration.
Putin says BRICS will generate most of global economic growth
Russian President Vladimir Putin will host a summit of the group in the city of Kazan on Oct. 22-24.
ISIS Malaysia's perspective of Budget 2025
An excellent rakyat-centric budget under the overarching principle of a caring and humane economy.
Budget 2025: Record increase in STR, SARA aid initiatives
The government will provide a significant boost to the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) and Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) initiatives next year.
Budget 2025: EPF contributions to be made mandatory for foreign workers – PM Anwar
The government plans to make it compulsory for all non-citizen workers to contribute to the Employees Provident Fund (EPF).
What policies to expect from Indonesia's new President Prabowo
Prabowo will be open to foreign investment, his aide has said, such as by offering investors management of airports and sea ports.
Budget 2025: Govt allocates RM470 mil to empower women's participation in PMKS
The Women's Leadership Apprenticeship Program will be intensified as an effort to produce more female corporate personalities.
Israel sends more troops into north Gaza, deepens raid
Residents of Jabalia in northern Gaza said Israeli tanks had reached the heart of the camp, using heavy air and ground fire.
Indonesia ramps up security ahead of Prabowo's inauguration
Prabowo Subianto will be sworn in as Indonesia's president on Sunday with Vice President-elect, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, also taking office.
Immediate allocation of RM150 mil for local authorities, DID to tackle flash floods
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said this allocation is intended to address the recent flash floods that hit the capital and several major towns.
Budget 2025: Sabah, Sarawak to continue receiving among highest allocations - PM
Sabah and Sarawak continues to be prioritised under Budget 2025, with allocations of RM6.7 billion and RM5.9 billion respectively.
NFOF will be operational in November 2024 with funding of RM1 bil
PM Anwar Ibrahim said NFOF will support venture capital fund managers to invest in startup companies with RM300 million set aside for 2025.