ISIS

Photography

An insider look at Kurdistan’s fight against ISIS

We came from fire — Photographer Joey L. has been embedded with Kurdish guerrilla groups for years, capturing the human side of a fast-evolving conflict.

Written by: Eva Clifford

Film

The Syrian filmmaker who went undercover as an extremist

Risk and resist — In his chilling documentary, Of Fathers And Sons, director Talal Derki paints an intimate portrait of life in a modern Jihadi family.

Written by: Thomas Curry

Reportage

On the frontlines with the Kurdish female fighters beating back ISIS

Öcalan's Angels — Iraqi pro-government forces are making gains in the start of their large-scale operation to retake Mosul, the last major stronghold of the so-called Islamic State In eastern Syria. Fighting alongside the government forces are a Kurdish feminist army, but what’s driving young Kurdish women to take up arms, knowing they may never return? Magnum photographer Newsha Tavakolian went to find out for Huck's Defiance Issue.

Written by: Newsha Tavakolian

Activism

As a journalist I gave Anjem Choudary a platform. In doing so I legitimised his radical views

From Where I Stand — After months of reporting restrictions, it was revealed this week that British radical hate preacher Anjem Choudary has been convicted for urging people to support Islamic State. Oli Rahman is a London based journalist, who used to work for one of the UK's largest news agencies. He argues that it was the media who helped legitimise Choudary's views, something for which he too takes some blame.

Written by: Oli Rahman

Film

What makes Al Qaeda suicide bombers tick?

Humanising the enemy — Director Paul Refsdal lived alongside Jhabat al-Nusra’s ‘martyrdom seekers’ in Syria to understand what motivates them in his hard-hitting documentary Dugma: The Button.

Written by: Alex King

Magazine

Story Behind the Still: The defiant joy of Afghan refugees arriving on Lesvos

Reframing the refugee crisis — Two Afghan boys wearing Real Madrid T-shirts pose for a picture minutes after their boat landed on Skala Sykaminias beach on the Greek island of Lesvos. Hundreds of refugees, make this journey every day, boarding overcrowded inflatable boats to flee war and violence. But in the eyes of right-wing anti-immigration groups, this twosome are something to be feared. This is the story behind one of the boldest image in Huck’s Freaked Out Issue.

Written by: Jack Richardson

Music

Kirkuk's only metal band are defying ISIS in Iraq

Death and metal in a divided state — Forged in the crucible of oil-rich and conflict-ridden Kirkuk, the story of Iraqi band Dark Phantom is pure metal. But in a city littered with Isis sleeper cells, going underground is no affectation. It’s a means of survival.

Written by: Campbell MacDiarmid

Culture

Artists respond to the Brussels terror attacks

U.N.I.T.Y. — After Brussels is hit by coordinated terrorist bombings, illustrators and artists around the world share their responses.

Written by: HUCK HQ

Activism

The Affected Ones: Why French teenagers are joining ISIS

Radicalised Runaways — Breaking down the phenomenon of ‘jihadi girl power’ – a transgressive subculture that has little to do with religion and everything to do with escapism.

Written by: Cian Traynor

Activism

Young, British and angry? The government thinks you're a terrorist

Start of a police state? — A London children's safeguarding board has warned parents that distrust of government policy and the mainstream media could lead to potential extremism.

Written by: Adam White

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