12 of the 15 Saudi 9-11 hijackers came from the tribes that straddle Highway 15. A coincidence? It’s the equivalent of the Arabian Peninsula’s Route 66 – In the immediate aftermath of the US-UK invasion of Iraq, I undertook a journey along it to investigate the ideological roots of the rise of Islamist fundamentalism. Beginning at Bin Laden’s ancestral home in Yemen, I passed through al Qaeda gun-markets, artist studios, meetings with Jihadis, before entering the Aseer Region of Saudi Arabia, passing Mecca and finally reaching Jeddah.

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Highway 15: Kingdom at the Crossroads Script & Editorial Summary (PDF, 2.4MB)

Highway 15 gives a rare street-level insight into a ‘kingdom at the crossroads’ of change - 70% of Saudi are under 30. Today they face an inheritance of internal political, religious and cultural change, the fallout of 9-11, the politics and wars of Israel/Palestine, Afghanistan and Iraq, a love-hate relationship with America, and what many believe is the West’s war on Islam. From al Qaeda gun-markets to wannabe gangsters on the streets of Jeddah, from jihadis to modern artists, this powerful, authored documentary tells their story.

Production details
Title: Highway 15: Kingdom at the Crossroads
Role: Writer, Narrator, Director/Camera, Producer
Transmission: excerpts used in art installation
Location: Yemen & Saudi Arabia
Format: 1 x 60 minute documentary (available on request)