Russian drama On The Edge provides insight into the horrors of being recruited by Daesh (Islamic State), the terrorist group.
The drama follows the story of three fictional Russian women who are recruited by a slippery tongued IS fighter. Once these girls decide to leave their previous lives, join the terrorist organization far from home, their lives change for the worst.
Director Yevgeny Lavrentyev said that while due to strict terrorism laws in Russia, the militant organization could not be named in the series. However viewers can easily identify which real-life terrorist outfit its based on.
It is “absolutely clear” that the programme is about Daesh.
You can watch it here:
Three fictional women travel to Syria after a seductive young man lures them into joining the militants.
This is the first Russia art project that tackles the burning issue of ISIS brides, and what one should do with these recruits.
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Information is Power
The drama does not romanticize war or militancy. In fact, it’s trying to counter militancy through the power of information. The project’s main aim is to cast light on the integration of ISIS brides and recruits. By doing so, it hopes to deter potential new recruits for the militant group.
The drama is all the more relevant, especially when you consider the real-life case of Shamima Begum and other women, who now find themselves blacklisted and prevented from going back home after the defeat of the militant group in Syria.
The series focuses on on Daesh’s slick multi-lingual recruitment videos, their black-and-white flags, and gun-toting child fighters.
Lavrentyev asserted that while he supported Russian laws on terrorism, there is a need to spread awareness about certain issues. He added that these laws end up creating fear among the public and media, and compromise the culture of open discussion. In turn, militant groups like ISIS exploit this fear for their own nefarious ends, misleading people as a result.
“It’s easy for these militants to present themselves as some kind of romantic heroes and tell a lot of lies about themselves because no one really knows anything about them and people don’t want to talk about this.”
The film-maker revealed that these recruiters end up targeting people who are struggling in life, be it due to professional or personal reasons.
“At those moments when a person has lost his aim in life, when he’s on the edge — the series doesn’t have that title by chance — you just need to find that person and talk to them.”
The Fate of ISIS Recruits
Many people from all over the world, including Russia, traveled to Syria to fight with Daesh militants. Some of them ended up becoming ISIS brides.
Following the defeat of the terrorist group, many recruits and ISIS brides sought to return to their home countries. However, given their involvement with ISIS, many of these individuals were designated as terrorists and lost their citizenship status, especially those from the United States and the European Union.
Many recruits, most recently Shamima Begum, plead that their children be allowed back. This has presented the US and the EU with a dilemma, regarding the reintegration of these families.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry warned in March that Daesh fighters’ family members may also have been radicalized and pose a threat if they return to Russia.
Even Russia has flown back children. Even in Lavrentyev’s drama the fate of these people is subject to little moral ambiguity. Lavrentyev is firm on his stance that these are people who have been manipulated. Therefore, states should not unjustly persecute all of them, at least those who repent, without hearing them out.
“Here I don’t question anything — if a person participates of their free will in a terrorist organisation, they should go to jail.”
