Stories from the Caliphate
I was born in Iraq—for better or worse—and stories of war stick to me like chewing gum to the sole of a shoe. So here I am, narrating encounters—some hair-raising, others inspiring—of survivors of the so-called Islamic State in Mosul, Iraq, from 2014 until after its demise in 2017.
Daish Diary
Afternoon Tea with Al Qaida’s Spiritual Godfather
Al-Maqdisi and Dr. Fathi Samara at Samara’s clinic, Zarqa, Jordan March 2015. Photo credit: Muna Fadhil. Few outside the world of militant Salafi Islam have heard of Abu Mohammad al-Maqdisi. Those who know him will tell you he was part of al-Qaida’s…
Read story →
Daish Diary
Interview with an Islamic State school teacher
Former Islamic State school teacher - identity concealed at her request The Islamic State, or Daish, were the first among their predecessors in the Takfiri Jihadi militant Islam arena to pay special attention to indoctrinating children—compared to…
Read story →
Daish Diary
Recovering From Daish, Filming the Streets of Mosul (2017–2021)
Mosul city, September 2021. Photo credit: Muna Fadhil In this video, I explore the depth of destruction Daish left on Mosul City when it claimed it as the capital of its “Caliphate” in 2014. Not everyone in my vast family (hint: I have 40 cousins…)…
Read story →
Daish Diary
War Warrior Kids
Growing up as a child in a war zone is too disturbing for anyone who’s had a normal childhood to understand. But let me try to explain. My family loves to joke about my first birthday during an Iranian airstrike in 1980s Baghdad. I’d just learned to…
Read story →