Your views on ‘The Confession’, the documentary featuring Moazzam Begg

On Sunday night, the BBC aired the documentary film “<strong><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0803hst/storyville-20162017-1-moazzam-begg-living-the-war-on-terror">Moazzam Begg: Living the War on Terror</a></strong>”. The film attempts to navigate the human story of the War on Terror through the experiences of CAGE outreach director and former Guantanamo Bay detainee, Moazzam Begg. CAGE was overwhelmed by the response to the film as it seemed to really resonate with viewers from all backgrounds. The film has already generated positive reviews over the last few months, with <strong><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/aug/11/the-confession-review-profound-guantanamo-bay-documentary-moazzam-begg">The Guardian</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.cine-vue.com/2016/08/film-review-confession.html">Cinevue</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://entertainment.ie/movie-review/The-Confession-Living-The-War-On-Terror/383800.htm">Entertainment.ie</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.irishtimes.com/culture/film/the-confession-living-the-war-on-terror-review-throwing-more-shade-on-a-shadowy-time-in-history-1.2752697">The Irish Times</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.theupcoming.co.uk/2016/08/09/the-confession-living-the-war-on-terror-movie-review/">The Upcoming</a></strong> all rating the film ⅘ stars or more. <strong>Some viewers were inspired by Moazzam</strong><strong>’</strong><strong>s plight. Shoaib on Facebook had this to share:</strong> <strong> <a href="http://www.cage.ngo/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Untitled-2.jpg"><img class="wp-image-16094 aligncenter" src="http://www.cage.ngo/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Untitled-2-300x122.jpg" alt="untitled-2" width="435" height="177" /></a></strong><strong> Gareth focused on the impact foreign policy had on the rise of ISIS: </strong><strong> <a href="http://www.cage.ngo/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Untitled-7.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-16089 aligncenter" src="http://www.cage.ngo/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Untitled-7-300x111.jpg" alt="untitled-7" width="435" height="161" /></a></strong> <strong>Leicester based </strong><strong>Shaykh Abdul Hameed</strong><strong> also shared his thoughts on the film on his Facebook page:</strong> <strong><a href="http://www.cage.ngo/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Untitled-9.jpg"><img class="wp-image-16095 aligncenter" src="http://www.cage.ngo/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Untitled-9-300x72.jpg" alt="untitled-9" width="438" height="105" /></a></strong> <strong>While Chloe compared Moazzam to the equivalent of Nelson Mandela of the Muslim world: </strong><strong> <a href="http://www.cage.ngo/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Untitled-4.jpg"><img class="wp-image-16092 aligncenter" src="http://www.cage.ngo/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Untitled-4-300x66.jpg" alt="untitled-4" width="436" height="96" /></a></strong> <h4>On Twitter there were about 900 tweets on the hashtag #MoazzamBegg and #Storyville. These are some of the highlights</h4> <strong>Darshna Soni, the home affairs correspondent at Channel 4, shared this extract from the film:</strong> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-cards="hidden" data-lang="en-gb"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">"My argument is an uncomfortable one, but we must discuss it - Terrorism is often driven by grievance." <a href="https://twitter.com/Moazzam_Begg">@Moazzam_Begg</a> on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/storyville?src=hash">#storyville</a> <a href="https://t.co/ARRQH5KGrK">pic.twitter.com/ARRQH5KGrK</a></p> — Darshna Soni (@darshnasoni) <a href="https://twitter.com/darshnasoni/status/787782380203417600">16 October 2016</a></blockquote> <p style="text-align: center;"><script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" async="" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <strong>Others believed that Moazzam spoke for all British Muslims:</strong> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MoazzamBegg?src=hash">#MoazzamBegg</a> didn't just speak for himself tonight, but spoke for the majority of British Muslims. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreAllMoazzam?src=hash">#WeAreAllMoazzam</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/UK_CAGE">@UK_CAGE</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Storyville?src=hash">#Storyville</a> — Mariam ♡ (@AlMaghrebiyya) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlMaghrebiyya/status/787785412030980096">16 October 2016</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" async="" charset="utf-8"></script> <strong>Many more appreciated the serious questions raised and impact of the documentary: </strong> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Difficult, important questions raised by <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MoazzamBegg?src=hash">#MoazzamBegg</a> documentary, despite being only one side of story. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/bbc4?src=hash">#bbc4</a></p> — vc (@vacuouari) <a href="https://twitter.com/vacuouari/status/787783076072067073">16 October 2016</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" async="" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/storyville?src=hash">#storyville</a> has been an eye-opener. Really glad I watched <a href="https://twitter.com/Moazzam_Begg">@Moazzam_Begg</a> tell his story so candidly. Raises more qs than ans unfortunately — Matt Yoo (@milliwardipants) <a href="https://twitter.com/milliwardipants/status/787784293271670784">16 October 2016</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" async="" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Powerful statement by <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MoazzamBegg?src=hash">#MoazzamBegg</a>. Completely agree security services partly responsible for IS. Government too. Watch this program!</p> — Bill Linton (@BillLinton1) <a href="https://twitter.com/BillLinton1/status/787782720172781576">16 October 2016</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" async="" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb">Best documentary, thank Mr Begg for speaking the truth. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MoazzamBegg?src=hash">#MoazzamBegg</a> — Ahmed (@abutalhl) <a href="https://twitter.com/abutalhl/status/787781953001025536">16 October 2016</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" async="" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Was difficult listening to the ordeal of <a href="https://twitter.com/Moazzam_Begg">@Moazzam_Begg</a> May <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Allah?src=hash">#Allah</a> give us all strength <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Storyville?src=hash">#Storyville</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WarOnTerror?src=hash">#WarOnTerror</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheConfession?src=hash">#TheConfession</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/UK_CAGE">@UK_CAGE</a></p> — AhleSunnaTV (@AhleSunnaTV) <a href="https://twitter.com/AhleSunnaTV/status/787794235500163072">16 October 2016</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" async="" charset="utf-8"></script> <strong>This was Taaliah Nazar, an award winning journalist's poignant summary:</strong> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb">Wondering why <a href="https://twitter.com/UK_CAGE">@UK_CAGE</a> are so important? Watch <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/storyville?src=hash">#storyville</a> and you'll soon see...?<a href="https://twitter.com/Moazzam_Begg">@Moazzam_Begg</a> ?? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MoazzamBegg?src=hash">#MoazzamBegg</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WarOnIslam?src=hash">#WarOnIslam</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/BBCFOUR">@BBCFOUR</a> <h4>— Taaliah Nazar (@Taaliah76) <a href="https://twitter.com/Taaliah76/status/787779033467584512">16 October 2016</a></h4> </blockquote> <h4>Perhaps most importantly, the film highlighted the selfless and determined campaigning of Moazzam Begg’s late father (may Allah have mercy on him):</h4> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb">.<a href="https://twitter.com/Moazzam_Begg">@Moazzam_Begg</a> owes a lot to his late father who stood by him through his darkest years. He believed in his son. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MoazzamBegg?src=hash">#MoazzamBegg</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StoryVille?src=hash">#StoryVille</a> <a href="https://t.co/tivZ7W5kp4">pic.twitter.com/tivZ7W5kp4</a> — আবু মারিয়া (@Faysal_FreeGaza) <a href="https://twitter.com/Faysal_FreeGaza/status/787769532177903616">16 October 2016</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" async="" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MoazzamBegg?src=hash">#MoazzamBegg</a> 's stood up for his son, against the odds, against the system - He was right. They were wrong. Allah have mercy on him.</p> — Abdul Wahid (@AbdulWahidHT) <a href="https://twitter.com/AbdulWahidHT/status/787773020106555392">16 October 2016</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" async="" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">No parent should go through what Azmat Begg went through. Rest in power Azmat. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/storyville?src=hash">#storyville</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MoazzamBegg?src=hash">#MoazzamBegg</a></p> — Areeb Ullah (@are_eb) <a href="https://twitter.com/are_eb/status/787773150109036544">16 October 2016</a></blockquote> <strong>Humanitarian aid worker Majid Freeman had this to say:</strong> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">After watching <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MoazzamBegg?src=hash">#MoazzamBegg</a> doc for a second time I can easily say my love &amp; admiration for brother <a href="https://twitter.com/Moazzam_Begg">@Moazzam_Begg</a> has only increased. ❤</p> — Majid Freeman (@Majstar7) <a href="https://twitter.com/Majstar7/status/787785593463988224">16 October 2016</a></blockquote> <h4>Via email we received the following messages:<strong> </strong></h4> <blockquote>I watched this brilliant documentary last night. I had already forwarded this information to my mailing list. Many people have responded with high praise for Moazzam’s resolve, energy and dedication for his fight for justice. One non-Muslim has suggested that Moazzam Begg deserves Nobel Peace Prize for literature he produced in form of books and the torture he had to sustain in Guantanamo concentration camp. Bravo! <em>Nisar</em></blockquote> <strong> Vanessa who reviewed the entire film had this to say about the important role Moazzam and CAGE play:</strong> <blockquote>Moazzams’ story is a constant reminder of why organisations like CAGE are needed to ensure human rights abuses do not go unnoticed. Not only do CAGE play a positive role in investigating human rights abuses across the globe, but they also campaign against the detention without charge or trial of all individuals and denial of due process. What’s important to take away from The Confession is that Moazzam has never been tried or convicted of any crime. The refusal to bring him to trial was all part of the intelligence service’ cold and calculated plan to frame him for crimes that he did not commit.<em> </em> <em>Vanessa</em></blockquote> We apologise to the many others who commented online and thank them for enriching the discussion and for providing invaluable feedback. If you missed the film, you can watch it on <strong><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0803hst/storyville-20162017-1-moazzam-begg-living-the-war-on-terror">BBC iPlayer</a></strong>, or <a href="https://cage.ngo/event/nationwide-screenings-the-confession-film-plus-qa/"><strong>at a cinema near you</strong>.</a> <hr /> <h5><span style="color: #ff0000;"><a style="color: #ff0000;" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0803hst/storyville-20162017-1-moazzam-begg-living-the-war-on-terror">Watch "Moazzam Begg: Living the War on Terror" on BBC iPlayer</a></span></h5> <hr /> <strong>See the trailer here:</strong> <p style="text-align: center;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/D2zusq-BDbM" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> &nbsp;