Taking Apart Terror

Today (21 August) is International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism, a day established by the UN General Assembly to honour the victims and survivors of terrorism. To mark this, the Global Coalition Against Daesh is releasing a special episode of its award-winning podcast Taking Apart Terror, narrated by Omar Mohammed, a historian and extremism researcher famed for his anonymous blog ‘Mosul Eye.’ The podcast delves into the human stories behind acts of terrorism, exploring resilience in the face of unimaginable adversity. 

Omar Mohammed garnered international recognition for his courageous reporting from Mosul during Daesh's occupation, during which he documented the brutal realities of life under terrorist rule. His blog became one of the few unfiltered windows into the atrocities committed in Mosul, relied upon by journalists, policymakers, and humanitarian organisations alike. 

In Taking Apart Terror, Mohammed continues his mission of shedding light on the human cost of extremism, by interviewing survivors of terrorist attacks. Among them is Mayssam, a resident of Mosul who lived through Daesh's occupation, Travis, a survivor of the 2017 Westminster Bridge attack, and Officer B, an Australian counterterrorism officer who was stabbed in the line of duty in 2014. We also hear from Mayssa Rekhis, an anthropologist and medical doctor, who helps us understand the complex emotional and mental challenges survivors face. 

Through these deeply personal interviews, Mohammed explores how individuals cope both during and following an act of terrorism. The podcast offers listeners an intimate look at how individuals navigate the aftermath of terror, finding strength and resilience in what is often a messy, non-linear path to ‘recovery.’ It also gives us an insight into why Mohammed risked everything to create his blog: his actions mirror his deeply held belief that terrorism is an aberration, and goodness and resilience are the true markers of humanity: 

“It is too easy to believe, but also very wrong to believe, that [terrorism] is the true nature of humanity,” says Mohammed. “I would rather believe that our true nature if reflected in our ability to persevere, and to rally around those who need us.”  

Taking Apart Terror challenges the notion that terrorism defines our world, instead highlighting the enduring human spirit and the importance of supporting those who have been affected by these tragic events.

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In the final episode of Taking Apart Terror: The West Africa Edition, host Fatma Ahmed, Bulama Bukarti and Abdulkadir Sambo ask: what’s the bigger picture for ISWAP? Across Africa, as Daesh affiliates leverage and even compete against each other, how should the counter-Daesh mission adapt?

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Host Fatma Ahmed joins guest speakers Luc Chounet-Cambas and Florian Morier for episode 8 of Taking Apart Terror: the West Africa Edition, 'Is there a way out of ISWAP?'

Daesh members, confronted by the reality of the group, are searching for ways out. Listen now!

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“The job of tackling terror online is everybody’s job. It’s about looking out and changing the narrative.”

Terrorists have been able to thrive online for years, but who is tackling this? Our host Fatma Ahmad is joined by Institute for Strategic Dialogue’s Moustafa Ayad and Veritas University Abuja’s Obodo Nmeamaka to discuss this and more in Episode 7 of Taking Apart Terror: The West Africa Edition.

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'The struggle against radical ideology is asymmetrical. Security responses [alone] do not solve the problem.'

Tackling terror is about more than military operations. Find out how community leaders, journalists, and everyday citizens are involved in resisting extremism.

Fatma Ahmed is joined by the Center for Promotion of Human Rights and Development in Africa's Samuel Ngambo and the Commonwealth's Anna Sherburn for Ep.6 of #TakingApartTerror: Who’s Tackling Terrorism in the Lake Chad Basin?

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Who is tackling terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and ISWAP in Nigeria, and by what means? Local experts Ahmad Jumare (Neem Foundation) and Tanimu Tahir (Youth leader and peace-building advisor) join Fatma Ahmed in Episode 5 of #TakingApartTerror: The West Africa Edition.

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How does ISWAP raise funds? How is its money moved, and what does it pay for? Tune into Episode 4 of Taking Apart Terror where Fatma Ahmed, Dr Chukwudi Njoku and Chania Lackey discuss how ISWAP’s activities provide opportunities for disruption.

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“Women are also used as influencers because it is also believed that women can talk to women.”

Expert guests Kemi Okenyodo of Partners West Africa - Nigeria/Rule of Law & Empowerment Initiative, Ella Abatan of Institute for Security Studies (ISS) and Yobe State University’s Hadiza Bukar discuss the multi-faceted roles that women play in both countering violent extremism and working in support of violent extremist organisations in Episode 3 of Taking Apart Terror: The West Africa Edition.

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"The truth is that lots of things are happening behind the scenes that ISWAP does not want people to know.”

In Episode 2 of Taking Apart Terror: The West Africa Edition, host Fatma Ahmed joins Malik Samuel (ISS Africa) and Ahmad Jumare (NEEM Foundation) to uncover the violent reality behind ISWAP’s propaganda, and how the terror group has changed tactics in recent years.

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For the first time ever, Nigeria is the world’s largest source of Daesh/ISIS attacks. As local and international partners address the evolving focus of violent extremism, a new podcast series asks: what do we know about terrorism in West Africa, and what can we do about it?

Taking Apart Terror: the West Africa Edition is a nine episode series in which our host, Fatma Ahmed, brings together world-renowned experts from Nigeria, the Lake Chad Basin, and beyond to analyse and deconstruct the reality of terrorist group Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

In Taking Apart Terror: the West Africa Edition, we hear how climate change is directly affecting not just communities but gives ISWAP new opportunities and how women are essential agents in dismantling terror groups.

Taking Apart Terror: the West Africa Edition follows the award winning Taking Apart Terror – which was the recipient of the Bronze Lovie & People’s Lovie Winner 2022 for the Best Crime & Justice Podcast and a finalist for the Best International Affairs Podcast at the New York Festival Radio Awards 2022.

Fatma Ahmed is a governance, peace and security expert working with the United Nations to support programmes in this field. She notes:

“Being able to bring these experts and expertise together in this particular Taking Apart Terror: The West Africa Edition, it can really help contribute to the discussion in preventing the threats faced that we face in the region as a result of terrorism and violent extremism but, also, looking at opportunities and really providing that African narrative, the African stories, the African experience to these issues.”

Taking Apart Terror: the West Africa Edition unpacks the realities of ISWAP, increases our understanding of efforts put in place to fight them and explores how, by understanding Daesh/ISIS, we can strengthen efforts to reduce its appeal, see the group for what it really is, and better understand what we can do about them.

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