Today, Explained Know your enemy (Part I)
Jul 3, 2019
Deeyah Khan, a Norwegian-British documentary filmmaker and human rights activist, shares her harrowing journey confronting white supremacist ideologies. She recounts receiving death threats after a viral interview, leading her to seek dialogue with a neo-Nazi leader. The discussion highlights the complexities of identity and the power of empathy in transforming perspectives. Khan argues for understanding and compassion as essential tools to dismantle hatred, emphasizing the importance of connection in combating extremist beliefs.
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Khan's Early Experiences with Racism
- Deeyah Khan, growing up as a brown girl in Oslo, faced overt racism, including neo-Nazi marches and attacks.
- Her father believed these issues would disappear over time, but Khan became involved in anti-racist campaigning.
Death Threats and White Genocide
- After a BBC interview where Khan discussed changing demographics, she received numerous death threats from white supremacists.
- They interpreted her words as confirmation of a "white genocide" orchestrated by Jewish people.
Meeting the Enemy
- Khan chose to understand the white supremacists by contacting them for interviews, receiving mostly rejections.
- Finally, a leader of a neo-Nazi organization agreed to a one-hour interview in a Detroit motel.
