Director: Jeremy Young & Trevor Aaronson | USA | Documentary | 2014 | 47 mins
Film source: Al Jazeera Network
Sponsor: John Douglas
On the surface, the scene unfolds without any hint of intrigue. A young Muslim convert named Darren Griffin meets fellow congregants at a local mosque in northwest Ohio. In addition to sharing the same faith as his new friends, they enjoy similar interests: watching sports, playing video games, working out at the local gym, and discussing international affairs. Except the scene ends tragically with a string of arrests, a national media frenzy, and self-congratulation among federal officials claiming to have foiled yet another terrorist plot. The only problem is that Griffin was an FBI plant and the terror plot he supposedly helped thwart was entirely manufactured by the United States government. In addition to sharing the heart-wrenching stories of the victims of these entrapment tactics, the film is unique because it shines a light on the informants themselves, highlighting the crucial role that they played in actively enlisting young men who never demonstrated any inclinations toward engaging in violence.
Post screening panel with Informants producer Jeremy Young, Alan Gilbert – Executive Director ACLUVT and Dan Barrett, Attorney with ACLUVT.
About Jeremy Young: Young is currently the Senior Investigative Producer for Al Jazeera Media Network based in Washington DC. He first joined Al Jazeera English television in 2006 and has worked all across the globe producing reports for the channel. He focuses on a range of different story topics including criminal justice, US foreign policy, human rights abuses and national security.