Jihad TV

Propaganda is just as important in contemporary terrorism as plastic explosives. For Al–Qaeda footage of successful attacks by radical Islamic fighters represents an unprecedented media weapon. Film of suicide bombers smiling before an attack or the bestial execution of kidnap victims are posted on the internet almost daily. It is hardly surprising that such material, aimed at raising the adrenalin of young Muslims and increasing their desire to fight, has become known as Jihad TV. But things are not that simple. Anti–American and anti–Jewish hatred is stoked in the Middle East by a gory video game called Hezbollah and children's programmes on Syrian television. This Channel 4 investigative documentary was made by Paul Eedle, who has been following radical Islamic groups since the 1980s. He attempts to explore the influence that such propaganda has on Muslim youth both in the Arab world and in the UK. Despite the marked growth in such "hate TV" his conclusions are not completely pessimistic.

The partner of the screening is the International human rights documentary film festival One World.