ANGRY WARRIORS
Thousands of young people in Europe have recently joined the religious Salafi movement. Many of them have even set off to fight in Iraq and Syria. We take a look at their backgrounds and motives.
The Salafi movement is the fastest growing religious group in Europe. Thousands of young men have joined this movement in search of a meaning, community, but also violence. Their aim is to reform the state, the legal system and society according to Salafi principles – by whatever means necessary. And so hundreds of young European holy warriors set off to Syria and Iraq every week. But what makes the Salafi movement so attractive to European Muslims and converts? The film team spent a whole year with Salafis in various European countries. The result is a multi-faceted, insightful depiction of a complex social issue. We accompany Pierre Vogel, Europe's most popular Salafi preacher, on his recruitment drive in Germany, visit Koran schools in England and Austria, speak with the mother of a suicide bomber in France and follow a sharia patrol through London. Experts and secret service operatives explain the mortal danger that can threaten us at any time. And not least of all, the film also gives voice to the victims of this radical movement: Europe's Muslims, who through no fault or desire of their own are associated with this movement by everyone else.