"What do you want to be? A jihadist, or to execute a martyrdom operation?"
In the "caliphate" recently proclaimed by jihadists in Syria and Iraq, even young children are indoctrinated, and Sharia law is backed by the gun, according to a gripping documentary offering one of the first glimpses of life in Raqqa, power base of the so-called Islamic State (IS).
Part 1 of a five-episode series, The Islamic State, filmed by Anglo-Palestinian journalist Medyan Dairieh was released Thursday by New York-based Vice News.
The tone is set early: "Sharia can only be established with weapons," an IS fighter explains to Dairieh, who spent three weeks embedded with the radical Sunni group.
Dairieh, toting a video camera, gained "unprecedented access" to the organization, Vice News said.
In Raqqa, heavily-armed jihadists are seen celebrating on US armored vehicles seized during their advances in Iraq, while Sharia police patrol streets and markets with rifles over their shoulders.
Patrol chief Abu Obida orders traders to remove a poster showing "infidels," then blithely tells a man to change the fabric on his wife's veil.
"Those who don't obey will be forced," Obida explains.
In one gruesome scene, a crucified murder convict is displayed in the public square. In another, the bodies of Syrian 17th Division soldiers, killed by the jihadists during a recent offensive, are dumped on the sidewalk, their severed heads impaled on gate spikes.
"The Islamic caliphate has been established, and we will not stop," said IS press officer Abu Mosa.
A bearded man with a penchant for Ray-Ban sunglasses, Mosa accompanied Dairieh on his reporting and was shown shooting at Syrian soldiers during a skirmish.
He portrayed the group's fight as a battle against infidels like those in the West.
"Don't be cowards and attack us with drones. Instead send your soldiers, the ones we humiliated in Iraq," Mosa said of the Americans.
"We will humiliate them everywhere, God willing, and we will raise the flag of Allah in the White House."
Child training camps
Young boys look into the camera and pledge to take up the cause to "kill infidels."
A nine-year-old preparing for Kalashnikov rifle training said he was learning "to fight Russians -- umm, America."
"What do you want to be? A jihadist, or to execute a martyrdom operation?" a man identified as Abdullah the Belgian asked his six-year-old son.
"Jihadist," the boy replies, saying under prompting that infidels "kill Muslims."
Boys under 15 attend Sharia camp, while older ones learn military operations.
"We believe that this generation of children is the generation of the caliphate," said one man while children splashed in the Euphrates river.
"The right doctrine has been implanted in those children," he added. "All of them love to fight for the sake of building the Islamic State and for the sake of God."
Few women can be seen in the documentary; those who are shown wear the hijab.
Dairieh leads viewers through a courthouse where residents file complaints or wait on rulings from a Sharia judge on matters related to finance, alcohol use, adultery and other personal matters.
Asked if the process meets international standards, a clerk declares: "We aim to satisfy God, that's why we don't care about international standards."
Following a lightning offensive across Iraq in which IS was accused of numerous atrocities, the group on June 1 declared its caliphate from northern Syria to parts of eastern Iraq. Hundreds of thousands of people have fled.
Within days, jihadists advanced on autonomous Kurdistan, driving tens of thousands of minority Christians and non-Muslim Yazidis from their villages.
IS media coverage has been exceptionally rare due to security reasons. A New York Times report on the group last month did not identify its author or persons interviewed.
The brutal violence -- which has reportedly claimed the life of Mosa and another IS official since they were featured in the documentary -- makes Dairieh's time behind the IS veil extraordinary.
Kevin Sutcliffe, Vice News head of news programming for Europe, said Dairieh is likely "the only person they've let in for this amount of time."
The news outlet, part of Vice multimedia group, launched last December. Vice notably claimed a role in the 2013 "basketball diplomacy" which saw ex-NBA star Dennis Rodman travel to North Korea to meet leader Kim Jong-Un.
AFP
Sat Aug 23 2014
![A look into heart of jihadist 'caliphate' in Syria, Iraq A look into heart of jihadist 'caliphate' in Syria, Iraq](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2014-08/71408773236_295x200.jpg)
Shiite Muslim fighters from the Saraya al-Salam (Peace Brigades), a group formed by Iraqi Shiite Muslim cleric Moqtada al-Sadr and tasked with defending the holy sites of Shiite Islam. - AFP PHOTO / ALI AL-SAADI
![Platform media sosial perlu letak tanda 'notis AI' dalam setiap kandungan AI dimuat naik - Fahmi Platform media sosial perlu letak tanda 'notis AI' dalam setiap kandungan AI dimuat naik - Fahmi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/41723708198_TBFAhmi.jpg)
Platform media sosial perlu letak tanda 'notis AI' dalam setiap kandungan AI dimuat naik - Fahmi
Platform media sosial dikehendaki meletakkan notis 'Kecerdasan Buatan (AI)' dalam setiap kandungan AI yang dimuat naik.
![Wajah, suara disalah guna 'scammer', Khairul Aming beri peringatan Wajah, suara disalah guna 'scammer', Khairul Aming beri peringatan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/41723702833_TBKhairulAming.jpg)
Wajah, suara disalah guna 'scammer', Khairul Aming beri peringatan
Khairul Aming meluahkan kebimbangan apabila pihak tidak bertanggungjawab menggunakan wajah dan suaranya untuk menjual barangan kepada golongan berusia.
MBSB Bank bekerjasama dengan INSKEN, MAIJ lancar program untuk komuniti asnaf
Program tersebut bertujuan untuk mentransformasikan kewangan sosial Islam dengan memperkasakan individu dalam komuniti asnaf melalui latihan intensif, sokongan kewangan dan bimbingan berterusan.
![Buli siber: Sophia Albarakbah kumpul bukti Buli siber: Sophia Albarakbah kumpul bukti](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/61723696968_SophiaAlbarakbah.jpg)
Buli siber: Sophia Albarakbah kumpul bukti
Aktres Sophia Albarakbah kini giat mengumpul bukti untuk mengheret pihak tidak bertanggungjawab termasuk pembuli siber ke muka pengadilan.
![Suri rumah dilaporkan hilang, ditemui mati dibunuh dalam bilik Suri rumah dilaporkan hilang, ditemui mati dibunuh dalam bilik](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81723706198_TBsurirumahmaut.jpg)
Suri rumah dilaporkan hilang, ditemui mati dibunuh dalam bilik
Seorang wanita yang sebelum ini dilaporkan hilang ditemui meninggal dunia disyaki dibunuh dalam bilik tidur rumahnya di Indera Mahkota di sini pada petang Rabu.
![Faisal Halim bukti 'pendekar' sejati - Irfan Bakti Faisal Halim bukti 'pendekar' sejati - Irfan Bakti](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81723294016_FaisalHalim.jpg)
Faisal Halim bukti 'pendekar' sejati - Irfan Bakti
Faisal Halim layak dilabel pejuang sejati apabila mampu bangkit walaupun berdepan trauma selepas menjadi mangsa simbahan asid pada Mei lalu.
![Polis mohon bantuan kesan Raisya Rasyiqah Polis mohon bantuan kesan Raisya Rasyiqah](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/61723705839_TBHilang.jpg)
Polis mohon bantuan kesan Raisya Rasyiqah
Polis memohon bantuan orang ramai mengesan seorang remaja perempuan berusia 15 tahun yang dilaporkan hilang di Beranang, Selangor.
![Simbah cat merah, orang suruhan ah long didenda RM3,000 Simbah cat merah, orang suruhan ah long didenda RM3,000](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/51723705134_TBAhLong.jpg)
Simbah cat merah, orang suruhan ah long didenda RM3,000
Seorang orang suruhan ah long mengaku bersalah atas pertuduhan menyimbah cat merah di rumah keluarga peminjam, Januari lalu.
![Latihan berstruktur sektor ekonomi digital berjaya stabilkan pendapatan, perniagaan asnaf Latihan berstruktur sektor ekonomi digital berjaya stabilkan pendapatan, perniagaan asnaf](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/51723705177_TBMyREF.jpg)
Latihan berstruktur sektor ekonomi digital berjaya stabilkan pendapatan, perniagaan asnaf
Lebih daripada 30 asnaf bersama ahli keluarga mereka telah diraikan di Majlis Graduasi MyREF Hijrahpreneur Skills Program (MyREF HSP) di Auditorium High Impact Research, Universiti Malaya.
![Polis sahkan pemain bola sepak bawa kerambit sebagai suspek kes baling bom petrol Polis sahkan pemain bola sepak bawa kerambit sebagai suspek kes baling bom petrol](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/71723704577_RusdiMohdIsa.jpg)
Polis sahkan pemain bola sepak bawa kerambit sebagai suspek kes baling bom petrol
Polis telah mengenal pasti seorang pemain bola sepak yang ditahan kerana membawa kerambit ke padang bola, sebagai suspek kes baling bom petrol di sebuah pusat hiburan di ibu negara.
![Kelayakan Piala Dunia/Piala Asia: Jordi Amat dilayang kad merah, Iraq benam Indonesia Kelayakan Piala Dunia/Piala Asia: Jordi Amat dilayang kad merah, Iraq benam Indonesia](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/61717721835_IndonesiavIraq.jpg)
Kelayakan Piala Dunia/Piala Asia: Jordi Amat dilayang kad merah, Iraq benam Indonesia
Dalam perlawanan yang berlangsung di Jakarta, Indonesia tumbang 0-2 kepada Iraq di sebalik persembahan cemerlang dalam separuh masa pertama.
![Iraq luluskan RUU anti-LGBTQ Iraq luluskan RUU anti-LGBTQ](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/81714298439_rainbowflag.jpg)
Iraq luluskan RUU anti-LGBTQ
PARLIMEN Iraq pada Sabtu meluluskan rang undang-undang (RUU) yang menjenayahkan hubungan sejenis.
![Bintang TikTok Iraq, Umm Fahad ditembak mati di luar rumah Bintang TikTok Iraq, Umm Fahad ditembak mati di luar rumah](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/81714256767_TBUmmFahad.jpg)
Bintang TikTok Iraq, Umm Fahad ditembak mati di luar rumah
Pihak berkuasa Iraq umum penubuhan "jawatankuasa siasatan khas- untuk menjejaki pembunuh yang tidak dikenali itu.
![Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-04/41680607592_TBBERITAx.jpg)
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah antara yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
![Pasangan pengantin Iraq masih trauma, akui jiwa mati selepas insiden kebakaran maut Pasangan pengantin Iraq masih trauma, akui jiwa mati selepas insiden kebakaran maut](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-10/41696146890_TBweddinfire.jpg)
Pasangan pengantin Iraq masih trauma, akui jiwa mati selepas insiden kebakaran maut
Majlis perkahwinan pada malam Selasa lalu itu dihadiri 900 tetamu, dengan kebakaran bermula kira-kira jam 10.45 malam.
![Proton X90 tembusi pasaran Mauritius, Afrika Selatan dan Brunei Proton X90 tembusi pasaran Mauritius, Afrika Selatan dan Brunei](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-06/51687171009_Proton.jpg)
Proton X90 tembusi pasaran Mauritius, Afrika Selatan dan Brunei
Kenderaan tenaga baharu pertama Proton Holdings Bhd, X90 mencatat kemunculan pertama di Mauritius, Afrika Selatan dan Brunei.
![Iraq isytihar perintah berkurung di Kirkuk selepas pertempuran Iraq isytihar perintah berkurung di Kirkuk selepas pertempuran](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-09/61693713844_TBIraqKirkukProt.jpg)
Iraq isytihar perintah berkurung di Kirkuk selepas pertempuran
Perdana Menteri Iraq Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani mengarahkan perintah berkurung dan memulakan operasi mencari di kawasan rusuhan.
![3 jalani hukuman gantung di Iraq terlibat pengeboman Daesh ragut 300 nyawa 3 jalani hukuman gantung di Iraq terlibat pengeboman Daesh ragut 300 nyawa](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-01/61674803551_TBpakistan.jpg)
3 jalani hukuman gantung di Iraq terlibat pengeboman Daesh ragut 300 nyawa
Perdana Menteri Iraq Mohammed al-Soudani menyifatkan hukuman itu "adil" semasa pertemuan dengan keluarga mangsa.
![Zambry mulakan lawatan rasmi pertama ke Iraq mulai Rabu Zambry mulakan lawatan rasmi pertama ke Iraq mulai Rabu](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-06/41688123875_wismaputra.jpg)
Zambry mulakan lawatan rasmi pertama ke Iraq mulai Rabu
Zambry dijangka mengadakan kunjungan hormat ke atas pemimpin Iraq dan pertemuan dua hala dengan Fuad.
![NATO peluas peranannya sebagai penasihat di Iraq NATO peluas peranannya sebagai penasihat di Iraq](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-06/51686024168_TBnato.jpg)
NATO peluas peranannya sebagai penasihat di Iraq
NATO sedang meluaskan misinya untuk menyokong pasukan keselamatan di Iraq, menurut pakatan pertahanan Barat yang dianggotai 31 negara itu pada Khamis.