RKS 2023 Film: “ROJEK”: Behind the ISIS Killing Machine

“ROJEK” is Canada’s official selection for Best International Feature Film and Best Documentary Feature Film at the upcoming 96th Academy Awards.

“ROJEK” is available on all major VOD platforms in North America and will be launched on CRAVE on 8December2023, Canada’s prestige entertainment streaming platform.

“ROJEX” was directed by Canadian director Zaynê Akyol who was born in Turkey and is of Kurdish origins.

While most of ISIS (DAESH) was driven out of Syria many ISIS members were imprisoned there. Although some of ISIS prisoners spout crocodile tears about their bad choice in joining ISIS interviews with many of them explain how they were willingly recruited. Many in Germany were “shown the way” by imams.

At the core of “ROJEK” is a series of interviews with mostly male inmates with a couple of burka clad women.

Death and murder is the way of Allah for infidels. The way to paradise is to destroy all infidels and as the men say there are many virgins waiting for them there who will let you do what you want to them. A Playboy Mansion! Women inmates look forward to eating well and to fruit trees that bend over and offer you their fruit.

As one inmate states a jihad is in every Muslim’s heart and at the core of Islam as after all Mohammed fought until his death and we want to fight like him to the end of our lives. ISIS jihadists wage war on “disbelievers” which are any force fighting them such as the Iraqi army, Americans, journalists and “anyone connected with their governments”. One of the inmates says that in Germany he had all the material comforts but it was only in rediscovering Islam that his life had any meaning and that lead to joining ISIS. Many of the young men were smuggled in to Syria through Turkey almost as if the Turks encouraged them to join ISIS.

We learn about female ISIS converts who were housed in “reception houses” under the iron fist of a male “judge”. Freedom of movement was severely restricted until they decided to marry and be put under the iron fist of a husband who may have had multiple wives. A misogynist group these men were and one inmate said if you asked me a question about my wife I would put a bullet through your head.

There is a clear hatred streak for the LGBTQ community and what could be wrong with stoning adulterers and beheading “wizards” as these acts are ordered by God.

ISIS members also have a hatred for democracy as if you are a disbeliever you are not following God’s way. A Muslim wants the way of God and wanting to be ruled by the will of the people is against the will of God. Those who oppose us are international disbelievers and are legitimate ISIS targets.

Recruits were taught in military school training camps.

ISIS funding was primarily derived through oil production and its smuggling. ISIS also plundered cultural artifacts and as one inmate stated European museums were the buyers.

ISIS sleeper cells carried out assassinations, murders, planning of suicide missions and intelligence outside ISIS territories.

Then there were the “media units” creating propaganda to convert or intimidate. Beheading and executions were prime time productions. We see one disturbing video of a pumped-up ISIS fighter sitting amidst dead bodies praising God after every sentence.  “Glory to Allah” and the like punctuates many sentences spoken by the inmates in these interviews.

As one fighter muses every Muslim has a jihad in his heart but it is the fundamentalists that hold it as a sacred duty and they want ISIS to last forever. ISIS is like a glass plate, the more broken pieces the more strength it gains. Somewhat like the Israeli’s creating legions of new terrorists in its invasion of Gaza.

You may be initially confused by the beautiful shots of oil being refined and burning fields but this will make sense as the film rolls. Beautiful cinematography throughout. An appropriate and foreboding musical score.

Several mentions are made of “jinns” a sort of devilish possession which may prompt you to believe ISIS fighters suffer from PTSD.

All said and done a compelling chronicle of hatred germinating bloodthirsty killing justified by a twisted interpretation of Islam.

RKS 2023 Film Rating 93/100.