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INDONESIA: A new movie on the life of a former Jemaah Islamiyah leader takes aim at terrorism, and spreads the message of peace to young Indonesians. The 60-minute documentary is called "Nasir Abas, Captain Jihad" and it will be shown in cinemas and distributed to schools across Indonesia.
The film's director, Damien Dematra, sees his film on the life of Nasir Abas as his contribution to humanity - by fighting terrorism and spreading the message of peace.
Nasir Abas, who is a Malaysian, was the first Jemaah Islamiyah leader to make public the existence of the regional terror network.
Since his arrest eight years ago, Nasir has been working with the Indonesian authorities to fight terrorism.
Nasir said: "I'm a lone fighter. People don't believe me, they blame me. My adversaries say I'm lying. Some say I'm a CIA agent, etc. This means I have to struggle alone to explain who I am."
Nasir has already written three books and produced a comic, depicting his struggle against radical ideology. The new film is as an extension of his efforts.
He said: "Right now, I have to evaluate people's views on my efforts so far - support and rejection from my friends. This film is a form of evaluation."
Dematra said: "In my research and my conversations with a lot of people, the key idea that people understood is that this man is one of the success stories of de-radicalisation."
The film contains the testimonies of key people who were in close contact with Nasir. They include fellow militants who fought in Afghanistan and anti-terror officers.
"This is pointed towards the young generation. That a very influential person like him, a former teacher of Nordin M Top and Dr Azhari, has shown that it was the wrong way to take... This is the right way, the new jihad. So I call him "Captain Jihad" now. Because the new meaning of jihad is this - peaceful jihad," said Dematra.
The film is scheduled to be released in cinemas soon. But it will also reach its target audience - students in Islamic boarding schools and high schools across Indonesia. The film is expected to spark a debate on the kind of "jihad" young Indonesians want to wage in Indonesia.
-CNA/ac
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