Conversations With Coleman

Jihad Rehab: A Tale of Cancellation with Meg Smaker

Jan 20, 2023

Controversial filmmaker Meg Smaker discusses her documentary 'Jihad Rehab' that follows former jihadists integrating back into Saudi society. The film explores the challenges of war, dehumanization, and the root causes of terrorism. It was condemned as Islamophobic by a small group, despite the filmmaker's experience and understanding of the Middle East. The podcast also touches on dyslexia, emergency situations, rehabilitation of extremists, education access in Yemen, and the challenges of documentary filmmaking.

01:14:33

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Episode guests

Meg Smaker

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

The documentary humanizes former G-Hott terrorists and challenges stereotypes surrounding their motivations for joining terrorist groups.

The film explores the complexities of the war on terror, highlighting the role of American intervention and the root causes of G-Hottist violence.

The documentary sheds light on the struggles faced by former terrorists during the rehabilitation process and their difficulties in reintegrating into society after leaving a path of violence.

Deep dives

The film explores the motivations of former G-Hott terrorists

The documentary follows former G-Hott terrorists who have been released from Guantanamo Bay after 15 years and are going through a rehabilitation program in Saudi Arabia. It delves into their various motivations for joining terrorist groups, including a sense of cause, economic necessity, peer pressure, and a sense of adventure. Through interviews and personal stories, the film humanizes these men and challenges preconceived notions about their actions and beliefs.

Introduction

4min

My Journey with Dyslexia

17min

Humanizing Jihadist Terror

8min

Calm and Focused in Emergency Situations

2min

Exploring Rehabilitation and Motivations of Former Extremists

6min

Yemeni-owned delis and the impact of education access in Yemen

2min

Navigating Boundaries and Trust in Documentary Filmmaking

30min

Supporting a Controversial Film and Oscar Campaign

6min

Welcome to the first Conversations with Coleman of 2023.

We're starting things off right with a great guest, Meg Smaker. If you've heard of Meg, it's probably because of the controversy surrounding her new documentary, originally called "Jihad Rehab", but later changed to "The Unredacted". Now, before I describe the controversy to you, I want to first say that this is one of the best documentaries I have ever seen in my life, hands down, and it was initially received that way at the Sundance Film Festival. Meg and her camera crew follow former jihadists who have just been released from Guantanamo Bay after 15 years. These former terrorists go through a special rehab program in Saudi Arabia and eventually try to integrate back into Saudi society with varying levels of success.

The documentary touches on America's war on terror, the root causes of Jihadist violence, the challenges of becoming a civilian again once you spend two years fighting and in prison, and our tendency to dehumanize people who've done terrible things. However, Meg's film was condemned by a small group of perpetually offended people on the far left. They condemned the film for being Islamophobic, which it certainly isn't. And they condemn Meg for being a white woman making a film about Arabs (never mind that she lived in the Middle East for many years, speaks Arabic, and so forth). If this documentary had been created by an Arab filmmaker but was identical in every other way, I have no doubt that the same people would be saying it should be nominated for an Oscar. It's really that good. Unfortunately, after her initially warm reception at Sundance, the people at Sundance reversed course and rejected her film from the festival caving into the demands of a small group of activists. Truly a cowardly concession to cancel culture in my view.

If you are able to access this documentary, I highly recommend you watch it. I also hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.

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FOLLOW MEG:

- GFM Campaign link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-unredacted-jihad-rehab?qid=62368ab1659167a8cc85f3a51ae5e45f

- Film website: https://jihadrehab.com

- Meg's Twitter: https://twitter.com/meighon

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Conversations With Coleman

Jihad Rehab: A Tale of Cancellation with Meg Smaker

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

The film explores the motivations of former G-Hott terrorists

The film highlights the complexity of the war on terror

The documentary examines the challenges of rehabilitation and reintegration

The film addresses controversial reactions and censorship

Controversy and Criticism Surrounding the Film

Impact of the Controversy and the Importance of Diverse Perspectives

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts