About the Filmmaker
Imran Raza, a Pakistani-American filmmaker, was in downtown London on July 7, 2005 in Queens Hospital preparing for a segment on health care for the BBC when British-born radical Islamists committed a massive act of terrorism. That incredible, transformational day, he heard the deadly explosion from two blocks away and then witnessed the ensuing carnage as the bodies arrived at the hospital.
After personally experiencing the horrific violence of the July 7th terrorist bombings by Muslim extremists, Imran decided to explore why four British-born young men would carry out such an attack on their own citizens. Imran discovered the suicide bombers had attended radical Islamic madrassas in Pakistan.
Two months later in September 2005, he made his way into a Pakistani madrassa to examine the root of this radical terrorist ideology. While filming there he discovered something unexpected - two American brothers from Atlanta, Georgia. Imran returned 18 months later in March 2007, for a 6 month stay in the dangerous City of Karachi, to find not only the Khan brothers, but surprisingly up to 80 American boys in the same madrassa.
Could these children become future terrorists like those who carried out the July 7 carnage? Was this part of a broader strategy to attack America in the future? These questions were too significant to go unanswered.
Raza, who attended USC Film School, is also a writer and singer in the Sufi-rock “supergroup” Sonic Ashtanga. The band consists of some of the most recognized names and best selling artists in the genre. The band intends to use its music to bring about a message of peace and reform to millions of Muslim youth throughout the world.
With startling numbers of Muslim youth — even in American — willing to justify suicide bombing, Raza will use the film and the music talents to reach this target audience. Raza hopes to embark on a speaking tour of the United States, Europe and the Middle East and bring his message of peaceful coexistence to millions of Muslims throughout the world through music and the spoken word.