Today, Explained Let’s talk about terror (Part I)
Jul 6, 2021
Deeyah Khan, a Norwegian-British filmmaker and human rights activist, delves into the haunting world of extremism. She shares her personal journey confronting white supremacists after receiving death threats, discussing the complexities of empathy and identity. Khan reveals how young people's feelings of inadequacy can be exploited by hate groups, while also highlighting a former neo-Nazi's transformative path towards understanding. The conversation powerfully underscores the importance of human connection in combating hate and prejudice.
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Deeyah Khan's early experiences with racism
- Deeyah Khan, a British filmmaker of Punjabi and Pashtun descent, faced racism growing up in Oslo.
- Her father believed that with time, such issues would disappear, but Deeyah became involved in anti-racist campaigns.
Death threats after BBC interview
- After a BBC interview where Khan discussed changing demographics, she received numerous death threats from white supremacists.
- They misinterpreted her words as promoting a "white genocide" narrative.
Meeting with a neo-Nazi leader
- Instead of reacting with fear, Khan decided to understand the source of the hate by contacting white supremacist groups.
- After months, a leader of a neo-Nazi organization agreed to a one-hour interview in a Detroit motel.