ADFF Documentary Review: The Oath

4.0

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In this striking documentary, directed by Laura Poitras (My Country, My Country), follows the true story of 2 men; one at odds with his ideology, one in the wrong place at the very wrong time…

Yemeni taxi driver Abu Jandal is a reformed man, or rather a man in the process of reforming. For many years he upheld the Al-Qaeda manifesto – or Oath; an oath which basically boils down to destroying America and its allies. He served as Osama Bin Ladin’s personal body guard in Afghanistan, and states that all of the 9/11 hijackers were friends of his.

During the films opening scenes, Jandal lovingly speaks with his son Habeeb about “joining the jihad fight when he is old enough”, holding photos of an infant Habeeb flanked by grenades and an AK-47 up to the camera.

In a very different part of the world, Salim Hamdan rots in solitary confinement at Guantanamo, where he has been since 2001. Hamdan refused to ever speak with the media, but letters he wrote to his family are narrated throughout the film. Hamdan and his lawyer have always protested that he was merely an employed driver and had absolutely no connection to Al-Qaeda’s inner operations or terrorism activities. A detail that Jandal and further courtroom evidence confirms.

Abu Jandal, a moniker given by Bin Ladin, openly admits remorse over his past actions, and with what happened to Hamdan. His name translates into “one of death”, but with his apparent change of heart and softening of beliefs, perhaps the name no longer fits.

Salim Hamdan was released after 7 years imprisonment. He refused interview requests from director Poitras, and has still not told his story to the media.

Editor review

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