Among the Believers

Through unique access to the charismatic and fundamentalist muslim cleric Abdul Aziz Ghazi, the leader of a network of madrassa schools with more than 10 000 students, Among the Believers reveals the bloody power struggle for control over the education for Pakistani children. A powerful and shocking exploration into the spread of radical Islamic ideology in Pakistan. Several of the major terror attacks in Pakistan within the last decade have direct or indirect links to Ghazi and his network of madrassas. The film brings us to the frontlines of this ideological battle playing out in Pakistan – a struggle over the understanding of Islam and its’ place in the Pakistani society. Per Eirik Gilsvik

Mohammed Ali Naqvi (1979) is an award winning filmmaker, known for films focusing on social and political issues. His work has received numerous awards, including the Amnesty Human Rights Award and the United Nations Association Festival Grand Jury Award. Among the Believers won the jury prize at Hollywood Film Festival and the FACT award at CPH:Dox.

THE CRITICAL ROOM: FIGHTING EXTREMISM

Film: Among the Believers

Date and time: October 12 at 6.30 pm.

Venue: Vika 2

Director Mohammed Naqvi will be presenting his film and take part in the discussion afterwards. Joining him in the panel is Pakistan’s ambassador in Norway Riffat Masood and author and social commentator Usman Rana. They will discuss how we can understand what is going on in Pakistan right now. The discussion is led by journalist and author, Elisabeth Eide.