From Islamic State victim to terrorist hunter | DW Documentary

An Islamic State prisoner for nine months, Masoud Aqil from Syria was released in September 2015. Today Masoud lives in Germany - and is restless.
In early 2016, a young Kurd named Masoud Aqil arrived in Germany after having fled Syria along the Balkan Route. And he brought valuable information with him -- about IS terrorists who’d also come to Europe the same way. Having been imprisoned and tortured by IS for nine months, he is willing to pass this information on to the German authorities.
Video journalist Masoud Aqil and his colleague Farhad Hamo were on their way to an assignment in December 2014 when they were apprehended by armed jihadis and held for 280 days. They were tortured and interrogated. Aqil and Farhad had been reporting for a Kurdish television network in neighboring Iraq since 2013. In September 2015, Aqil was released to the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) in a prisoner exchange. Now in Germany, Masoud Aqil is prepared to do what many refugees are afraid to do: talk about IS. He lives in an undisclosed location in Germany. Once a victim at the hands of terrorists, he is now a terrorist hunter. Using both the internet and information acquired through contacts in the Kurdish community and the YPG, Aqil tracks down IS supporters, some of whom he encountered during his captivity. Because they assumed the young Kurd would eventually be killed, many of his captors spoke openly to him. "They sent informants to me to prove the power of their organization," says Aqil. "They showed me newspaper articles and videos from western media outlets reporting on the growing threat posed by IS. They were proud." Today, some of those perpetrators live in refugee hostels in Europe. Masoud Aqil has reported them to the German authorities.
"These people took my home, my homeland, my dreams from me," Aqil said. But in Germany, he is still confronted with terrorists. He considers it his responsibility to do what he can to curb their influence in Europe. By giving Aqil the chance to reveal his story, from working as Kurdish cameraman in northeastern Syria to being imprisoned and tortured in IS prisons and eventually becoming a terrorist hunter in Germany, DW correspondent Frank Hofmann makes clear just how invaluable information provided by refugees can be in the fight against terrorists.
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[@sunisz8031]

“When Muslims are in the minority they are very concerned with minority rights, when they are in the majority there are no minority rights,” --Winston Churchill

[@mustaffah3064]

That is literally with every other race and religion

[@happysoul8147]

@@mustaffah3064 nope... Only with muslims.... Many non muslim countries are far better and progressive than islamic republics.

[@ArrKayCee]

It looks like you blurred out the faces of potential IS members, don't. Don't protect the identity of anyone actively killing innocents.

[@thejaguarking1107]

They don't block out western politicians faces. We know what they look like. The faces that fund terrorism.

[@dehlanshandirkayr6182]

@Hello There *western

[@jeremy-ws1rb]

They would after them

[@hassanejaz8742]

They Filmed It Again and it’s acted

[@MI-lo2hj]

​@Abhinav Kushwaha bruh wtf r u on about? He just said they its hard to get footage of actual fighters so they use actors, stop changing his words

[@justanotherhappyhumanist8832]

Stop protecting these men by hiding their faces!

[@MortySmith]

I agree!

[@shuhainaparveen7887]

Even if they are protected,karma will hit them.They will indeed pay for their crimes.

[@Zingo543]

I think its staged thats why they bluring theyre faces cuz they dont want anyone to mistaken them to be a isis fighter

[@richardque4952]

Locking them up could prove even more dangerous since they can turn the prison into a terrorist university a camp for mass brainwashing.

[@soonerorlater9883]

at last, a good and proper doc in pretty much every way.

[@webbotubes]

This man is a hero

[@brassmonkeyidaho]

Masoud Aqil God bless you brother, my heart goes out to you and those close to you. it is amazing how much dignity you preserved through all of your trials, you are an inspiration. i have shown this video to many people going through hard times and every single one is affected by you, your story, and quite frankly, your victory. i pray for you regularly and hope to see you doing well in the future. do you have a youtube channel or twitter, or a way i can know you are alive and well?

[@williamhoskins7818]

god bless masoud , what a life of trials . your actually the soldier , and you carry it dignity. peace brother

[@Pablo123456x]

Your / you're

[@anip6406]

Pablo123456x dude..seriously?

[@prasadchowdarysadineni807]

After Jews,Kurds are building a strong sovereign nation in northern iraq,hope Kurds in Iran,Syria,turkey also get freedom

[@thatdutchguy2882]

He's the new Simon Wiesenthal,....good for him, we need people like him in this world 👍.

[@lightking4426]

He’s a liar

[@zaidabd7601]

@@lightking4426 proof?

[@joesmama69]

@@zaidabd7601 how they put cams

[@angelikaa259]

Well done Masoud‼️👍🏻

[@viralchotaliya215]

Love u

[@swedlepop7092]

Viral Chotaliya bruh

[@Lolvideo1]

Oh you was agent of fbi .thanks God you dereve what you did

[@kross777rlsh9]

That was nightmarish. You get out of a horrible prison of torture. Try to inform people. They don't listen. Then you see the people who were working with said baddies who tortured you and cause trouble in the world roaming free?!

[@ekwnfhwndgv561]

they should all rot in prison

[@pauls9331]

Keep up the good work

[@giallotriplostrato]

How could there even be a difference between terrorist and islam 😂?

[@LVE-xr5or]

Nothing it is 1 and the same

[@rocky01031989]

Need more muslims like him

[@mizuhashiritsu3761]

Wherever islam exist, thread of terrorism will also exist. Islam and terrorism are two sides of the same coin.

[@banumiya13]

Pain = sorrow in eyes.

[@lisalessa8893]

I am a 30 year old women that new there were wars somewhere there, but recently with rise of taliban started to check on atrocities terrrorists do and i am completely shocked. How is that possible that people are okay with killings, i am devastated, this brutal reality hit me in the guts. Absolutely disgusting what these people do in the name of religion. Dreadful, just cannot stop crying all these days, absolutely disgusting

[@funnyboym4719]

God have mercy with him he sacrifice to defend the country

[@Lady_Aylar]

Brave man !! May God Protect U Masoud .

[@satyakibhunia4086]

I love DW news .

[@flyinbard7243]

I hope the West shouldn`t waste a bit of time what the local guy/ victim says against of those swine terrorists and should take action against of them before it`s too late, just have strong heart to punish and deport them.

[@Nasil-Yapmali]

Very good documentary really 🙏🏻

[@murrayeldred3563]

Excellent

[@walkbyfaithnotbysight1318]

Pray for their salvation

[@toddmeyers1455]

I retired from The Navy. I am a Graduate of The Naval Academy. I became a Navy SEAL, I deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan multiple times. I was involved in many missions to capture or kill talaban fighters that killed US Service members. Unfortunately I was injured a month after The deadly mission that killed nineteen Navy SEALS in the mountains in northern Afghanistan. They were the guys from Operation Red Wings and left survivor Marcus’s Lettrell to become The Lone Survivor. He wrote a book and a movie was made from that fight. I got a medical discharged due to the injuries i received. I don’t have any problems with what i did there or what i did. I had no feelings of killing them. I did it to help the people of Afghanistan and the world of The Talaban and Al-Qqudah.

[@kaisertuumalo6850]

Ever heard of Stolen Valor? You were Never a SEAL. I can tell just by your spelling and grammar.

[@lauralishes1]

Mmm really....I smell bullshit

[@Cottontailart]

@@kaisertuumalo6850 ever heard of dyslexia? You can still be a seal and have it.

[@maninderjitsingh5578]

What indian govt doing . Common India let's help Kurds whatever we could . Hey brother if u have guys who educated and can fly jets we can train u can give u old migs which we need to dispose we can give to u for air support . Lettle help is enough .

[@mathew1812]

Get lost.. india is not needed

[@maninderjitsingh5578]

Thanks Germany for anti tank missiles

[@caimaccoinnich9594]

May Haji Issa rest in peace

[@troypollonais9143]

Approximately 4,000 IS members and their families were allowed to leave Raqqa as part of a deal that was inked. There was a convoy that was approximately 3 kilometers long. Their demeanor was not that of a defeated force, but that of a conquering army. As they poured out of Raqqa leaving their destruction behind, they were covered/escorted by coalition air power. They proudly displayed their weapons and promised beheadings to the supporters of the fsa and its allies. You would think that they would have at least made a list of people's names and families if they couldn't take individual pictures of these so called supporters of islam, knowing that they will continue their love affair with hatred of humanity...

[@awfan221]

Troy Pollonais source?

[@meurigdavies8080]

Daidi Fantaye BBC did a documentary on it. The USAF then carpet bombed Raqqa, and welcomed their terrorists into an area near Deraz Zore shielded by the US.

[@bradleyhauf312]

And how do we get food and water and clothing and restore agriculture to these regions? Can you post something on charity finder in the comments as well?

[@ronojoybasu9126]

The trauma psychologist's eyes are traumatising

[@khuntykate8851]

He didn’t even blink once... Terrifying

[@HJockers66]

ich denke der junge Mann mag durch diese Öffentlichkeit in Gefahr sein, mögen die deutschen Behörden dahingehend sehr wachsam sein. Enormer Mut hat großen Applaus verdient. Auch für das DW TV Team dieses Thema so aufzugreifen, Hut ab.

[@thatdutchguy2882]

Heiko Jockers Ja,..stimmt.

[@TravelWorld1]

I danke dir

[@anthonycox3493]

well done that MAN .🙈🙉🙊

[@maninderjitsingh5578]

Brother i m from India and with you .any help u want you can call me .i am well trained x Para from Indian army . Any help u need just buzz me . For evil terrorists i m always there

[@alHollandi_1998]

May Allah reward Massoud. He is a brave man.

[@shanekinsella1606]

This is a hero

[@andrewmackinnon8095]

Thanks for taking it 100 %. I feel the same if I was drinking responsible; or sober for months.

[@Anirudh.thakur]

Brother we are also facing terrorism from 70 years

[@usamasiddiqui8068]

whats up with the focus...Annoying !

[@mdabdulshekh5084]

i support kurds

[@jotakanim]

I am so sorry to say this. Why? Sorry dostun .

[@skylanderdadandskylanderbo8327]

you see what you get when you open up your doors wth no screening,in many instances i do a risk assessment and if i were to do on muslms as a whole risk verses reward i seriously gotta say its all rsk and NO reward, non whatsoever.

[@jamesvancliff3865]

They should do this in every prison coz other countries treat them like hotels.

[@ElRealista7]

Sehr interessant!

[@arro2918]

Why won't the world leaders get together make a plan and take the isis ans the taliban together coz we're stronger together.....peace be all to those who died in the hands of the terrorist 😭😭...we all just want peace through the intire world... ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@tobiasgriffin4263]

It not that easy the west still think it like ww1 and ww2 their know front line just look at Afghanistan the Taliban just chill for 20 year and take the country back the Taliban said the west got the watch but we got the time Christiany Islam or any religion will fight for a 1000 years like in the Bible to die is to gain and don't fear the one who can destroy the body but not the soul bout fear the one who can destroy the body and soul and cast in to hell

[@tobiasgriffin4263]

The west stated the war in Iraq it fact that the usa lied about it the west just need to face fact a Europe and America is not christan anymore you can't beat a religion when you don't believe in god

[@oneilmatthewmartin995]

You must not see any man with any children

[@oneilmatthewmartin995]

In the beginning god created the heaven and the earth and you choose earth go tell a earth quake god didn't create any friends

[@Zofjap]

Close the borders or do a good screening on the reguees

[@axeldurman5224]

seemed very comfortable with the kalashnikov before being taken prisoner...no scars, no bruises, very sketchy details of his time in captivity...hard pill to swallow. very very sketchy character .....

[@arlindsopi3801]

Correct

[@scottleft3672]

Maybee undercover in a quiet way but never saw a rebellion.....best not to stand out.

[@tomharrison6762]

Seens like lies to further taqiyya.

[@TheWanster]

i was thinking of the same thing, he doesn't seem to have any marks or scars which you would think he would have from being tortured....

[@sagarpaul8591]

Thy sat thy don't supprt terrorist But thy support conversation of non Muslim girl Which it's called micro terrorism

[@vitatang904]

Why you blurred out the faces of the 👿 people n show Masoud so he can killed by the sleeper Isis 🤦🏽‍♂️

[@MatirManush-wu9cc]

Masoud is telling that he was tortured. We have seen many victims of IS but Masoud does not look like them. Masoud looks quite OK. His hands are no cut, his fingers are not broken, his teeth are not uprooted, his eyes are not blinded, his legs are not broken, his face is not disfigured, his neck is not twisted. There is no sign of torture on him. We don't know if he has any scar of beating on his body. If he had any prominent scar because of torturing by the IS he would have shown this. Masoud's story is not reliable. We believe this guy is just a liar.

[@heavymetal11]

All religion set out to be good...but the little percentage can be destructive if they believe killing the non believer is the right course. But action for reactions...there is cause for all reaction to start. All religion including christian should stop politicizing by spreading their faith. Let people have the right to choose.

[@awfan221]

Simone Koh Every faith is different. For Christianity in the U.S.A. for example, there are the genuine followers, then the Trump supporting, usually racist white supremacist Christians who politicize their faith to the point where they convince themselves that refugees are bad (in bible refugees are meant to be cared for passionately) and immigrants are bad while guns and wars are good... For Muslims, there are some political issues as well in the right wing/conservative regions, but there are more culturo-religious issues.

[@scottleft3672]

Leaders can't function without follower.

[@jeffreymoran6234]

Simone de Silvestro He's right let people choose instead of brainwashing them.

[@benitocamelo4208]

The only good comment here.

[@ridwamahamed2582]

Worse part is they blame one and another Radical right wing western Christian blame all muslim Extremist also blame non believers or western countries including muslim who don't support them.

[@Mourinho244]

Somebody need to boost these vedios to the fools are falling for the convertion

[@prasannasakhadeo6188]

Such badly made documentary

[@Nasil-Yapmali]

BecUse you love isis hahah😅

[@jotakanim]

All this for live ? Much more it's to come. Why ? Love you all .

[@oneilmatthewmartin995]

Your glasses is a instruments

[@swagatamondal2538]

Stubborn European

[@gustavoemannueldeangolasil243]

How to appear sunit muslin extremist group?When give money for that secret group ?Of where came the money?Who banks and company go money?

[@stevenbewley7995]

Keep opening corner shops. If they get through.

[@DBZFan2]

20:01

[@thomas.d6711]

anyone else willing to join a non religious organization dedicated to the pursuit of science and human progress? we can all get together and find a way to leave this shitty planet behind and go to mars or Saturn's moon; titan. leave religion behind and anyone who believes in it.

[@ИванИвановИванович-т1ф]

The atheist Khmer Rouge was as bad as this. They swung babies into trees, even.

[@tobiasgriffin4263]

Look at Russia from 1917 look at ww1 and ww2 look at the usa slaves trade look at Iraq Afghanistan all of this was non religious in the 20 centre more dear and war was done by non religion fact

[@oneilmatthewmartin995]

Cannibal code

[@vizon-aryproductions6191]

Guido steinberg lol cmon man! That CANNOT BE his real name ? Feels like he mocking the italians and jews

[@inferno0020]

Chad!

[@rhodie33]

the fruits of immigration

[@Capital_Jaidad]

Our Islam says that if you kill a human being for no reason, it is as if you have killed human beings all over the world. And such a person is outside the realm of Islam. You guys first understand Islam then talk.

[@scm98]

That is Islam. When Mohammed came to power he killed those who opposed him. And the Jews and Christians who refused to convert were killed

[@zerototalenergy150]

how aggression (against non muslims)is justified in islam : Quran (17:16) - "And when We wish to destroy a town, We send Our commandment to the people of it who lead easy lives, but they transgress therein; thus the word proves true against it, so We destroy it with utter destruction." Note that the crime is moral transgression, and the punishment is "utter destruction." (Before ordering the 9/11 attacks, Osama bin Laden first issued Americans an invitation to Islam)

[@averycuriousclumpofatom2159]

And also sura 9:29 and 9:5

[@oneilmatthewmartin995]

Watch the movie face off

[@fbm2454]

Dear Muslims and non Muslims brothers if any one started to accuse any Muslims of terrorist then simply ask him / her back that ( who made ww1 and ww2) 😂it is non Muslims that is enough answer ( moreover could you imagine that two counties non Muslims made war because of soccer game !)

[@asilaslapt1510]

But in this century it all islam and islamic countries every ideology did wrong things but most of them changed and reformed ideology only islam stuck in the 7th century7

[@vizon-aryproductions6191]

Ii get a wierd sense this might be a propaganda video eventhough events like this are true but i feel propaganda adenda

[@pedromagalhaes7389]

you even used thd tragedy in sinjar (northern irak) to blame assad once again... what a nonsense!

[@donaldjohn803]

77⁶kiknnn

[@Lolvideo1]

Fake propaganda of Kurd

[@Nasil-Yapmali]

Get lost idiott.many of them killed there.brits and american airplane help kurds.little help also from russia

[@mailio4536]

Imagine ruining a decent documentary with garbage stock soundeffects from a 6th grader's hobby horror movie

[@NicholleChristineEdwards]

We have an interesting Band of men serving the needs of a group of Terrorists called “Daughters of Achmed” right now in the United States for Dubai Services. Got all kinds of people down.