How realist is the depiction of ISIS in this first season of the Caliphate series? In this podcast, intelligence veteran and terrorism specialist Phil Gurski reviews Netflix Caliphate.
Category: Caliphate
How realist is the depiction of ISIS in Caliphate? In this podcast, 30-year intelligence veteran and terrorism specialist Phil Gurski reviews this Netflix series.
Starting in 2014, the terrorist group known as ISIS launched its version of the ‘Caliphate’ in parts of Iraq and Syria- a state run by Islamic law. Conditions were brutal and barbaric punishments were meted out for minor offences. Many lived in fear. Thousands from western countries left to join ISIS, despite the fact that everyone knew it was a terrorist group. Some were enthusiastic supporters: others had a change of heart once they got there.
All this is historical and well documented. Now we can relive those days via the Netflix production ‘Caliphate’. This Swedish production began airing in 2020 and follows events in Sweden and Iraq as several Swedes have left their homeland to join ISIS and SAEPO, the Swedish security service, is trying to keep tabs on threats. Throw into the mix an alleged ISIS bomb plot in Sweden and you have all the makings of a cliffhanger series!
Join Borealis as we walk through each episode and discuss what happened. We will look at how accurate the fictional depiction is, all seen through the lens of a 32-year Canadian intelligence veteran and author of five books on terrorism.
Calle calls Fatima in panic and demands that she and her contacts help get Lisha out. Pervin is devastated by the fight with Husam.
Fatima runs surveillance on Nadir to see if he can lead her to information that will confirm her suspicions. Fatima has arranged Pervin’s escape from Syria.
Dolores calls Fatima with very upsetting information. Fatima is afraid that her phone is tapped and tells Dolores they should meet at her place.
Ahmed, the colleague of Husam, is reported missing and Husam believes he has killed Ahmed.
Fatima tries to convince her chief at the Security Service of the seriousness of the information she has received from Pervin, but is met with complete indifference. What’s going on?
Fatima is going to help bring Pervin home from Syria, but she has a counter-demand. She asks Pervin to spy on her husband.
Security Service agent Fatima’s career is in trouble after a serious mistake. But one day she gets a very upsetting phone call.