--- title: "BackBeat: Hijacking Jihad" description: "A behind-the-scenes examination of our latest News Beat episode: Hijacking Jihad - Reclaiming Islam's 'Personal Struggle'" image: https://www.usnewsbeat.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/NewsBeat_NewOGImage.jpg --- [![](https://www.usnewsbeat.com/hubfs/NewsBeat_Logo_HighRes.jpg) ](https://www.usnewsbeat.com/) ** ** - [Episodes](https://www.usnewsbeat.com/episodes) - [Subscribe](https://www.usnewsbeat.com/subscribe) - [About](https://www.usnewsbeat.com/about) - [Artists & Guests](https://www.usnewsbeat.com/artists-and-guests) - Web Exclusives - [This Week In Social Justice](https://www.usnewsbeat.com/twisj) - [Guide to Civil Unrest](https://www.usnewsbeat.com/civilunrest) - [COVID-19](https://www.usnewsbeat.com/covid-19) - [Mass Incarceration](https://www.usnewsbeat.com/mass-incarceration) - [Bonus Content](https://www.usnewsbeat.com/blog) - [Media](https://www.usnewsbeat.com/media) - [Support](https://www.usnewsbeat.com/support) - [Contact](https://www.usnewsbeat.com/contact) # BackBeat: Hijacking Jihad Posted by [News Beat](https://www.usnewsbeat.com/blog/author/news-beat) on August 31, 2017  •  2 min read ![News Beat](https://www.usnewsbeat.com/hubfs/NewsBeat_BlogAuthorAvatar.jpg) Follow us [**](https://www.facebook.com/USNewsBeat/) [**](https://www.twitter.com/usnewsbeat) On this episode of BackBeat, the team discusses the inspiration for the episode [“Hijacking Jihad: Reclaiming ‘Islam’s Personal Struggle’”](https://www.usnewsbeat.com/2017/08/24/hijacking-jihad-episode-0003/) and how reporting on the meaning of Jihad has given them a more nuanced view of the religion. --- You’ll hear from Michael Conforti, aka Manny Faces, Christopher Twarowski, and Rashed Mian as they provide insight into the making of the episode. ### **Listen to full episode here:** As promised, we’re including a link to Libyan-American hip-hop artist Kayem’s [enlightening interview with Jeremy Scahill on The Intercepted podcast](https://theintercept.com/2017/03/15/intercepted-podcast-snowden-vs-trump/) in which he opens up about Muslim life in this post-9/11 world. Kayem performed original verses for the “Jihad” episode, touching on such topics as American interventions, how religion has been used as a scapegoat, common misconceptions of Islam, and the true meaning of Jihad. We flesh out these misconceptions further in a [corresponding article](https://www.usnewsbeat.com/2017/08/24/hijacking-jihad-episode-0003/). Here’s an excerpt: > Throughout the past 16 years, anti-Jihad policies at home and abroad have careened down a parallel path: While fighting multiple wars abroad, officials at home have championed anti-extremism programs that opponents say further stigmatize the Muslim community. Instead of eradicating terrorists and the radical ideology they espouse, these perpetual wars have created a vacuum where extremists breed violent ideologies. With social media helping amplify their toxic messages, terror groups have essentially weaponized the internet to attract followers fascinated with the idea of fleeing to a presumed religious utopia, such as the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)’s fraudulent caliphate. > > The fight against Jihad has been an exhaustive military exercise characterized by a rise in extremism as the so-called ongoing “War on Terror” has progressed. The United States is effectively stuck in neutral as the longest war in American history drags on—a conflict that has cost more than a trillion dollars and claimed thousands of American lives. For all the rhetoric about the threat posed by North Korea’s dictator provocateur, “Jihad” remains America’s No. 1 enemy. "Hijacking Jihad: Reclaiming Islam's 'Personal Struggle'" included interviews with [Murtaza Hussain](https://theintercept.com/staff/murtaza-hussain/), national security reporter at [The Intercept](https://theintercept.com/), [Dr. Hussein Rashid](http://www.husseinrashid.com/), professor of religious studies at Barnard College, and [Daisy Khan](http://www.wisemuslimwomen.org/muslim-woman/daisy-khan-2/), executive director of the [Women's Islamic Initiative In Spirituality and Equality](http://www.wisemuslimwomen.org/). Please send us your feedback and any ideas you might have for future episodes. Listen. Learn. Be outraged. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. And leave a review while you're there. (It helps us get noticed!) ###### Share This ### News Beat is an award-winning social justice podcast melding independent, hard-hitting journalism with original music from independent artists. Never miss an episode by [subscribing to News Beat](https://usnewsbeat-6888400.hs-sites.com/subscribe) on your favorite podcast app, and be sure to leave a rating and review while you're there. Remember, journalism never sounded so good! ### Leave a Comment ## Recent Articles [![](https://www.usnewsbeat.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/nypc_awards1-1024x730.jpg)](https://www.usnewsbeat.com/blog/news-beat-wins-best-podcast-2021-new-york-press-club-journalism-awards) ### [News Beat Wins Top Podcast at 2021 New York Press Club Journalism Awards](https://www.usnewsbeat.com/blog/news-beat-wins-best-podcast-2021-new-york-press-club-journalism-awards) July 30, 2021 News Beat podcast won top honors at the 2021 New York Press Club Journalism Awards for shining a light on state violence against Black women and girls. [Read Now ⟶](https://www.usnewsbeat.com/blog/news-beat-wins-best-podcast-2021-new-york-press-club-journalism-awards) [![](https://www.usnewsbeat.com/hubfs/TWISJ-Wide.jpg)](https://www.usnewsbeat.com/blog/exxon-environmental-lies-haiti-assassinations) ### [This Week in Social Justice: ExxonMobil vs. The Environment & Haiti's Past, Present & Future](https://www.usnewsbeat.com/blog/exxon-environmental-lies-haiti-assassinations) July 13, 2021 'This Week in Social Justice' unravels ExxonMobil's environmentally devastating propaganda, and Haiti's long and brutal relationship with U.S. imperialism. [Read Now ⟶](https://www.usnewsbeat.com/blog/exxon-environmental-lies-haiti-assassinations) [![](https://www.usnewsbeat.com/hubfs/TWISJ%20Square%20(2).jpg)](https://www.usnewsbeat.com/blog/climate-change-lethal-impact-minority-communities-indigenous-death-schools) ### [This Week in Social Justice: Indigenous Death Schools & Climate Change's Lethal Impact on Minority Communities](https://www.usnewsbeat.com/blog/climate-change-lethal-impact-minority-communities-indigenous-death-schools) July 04, 2021 'This Week in Social Justice' tackles Canada's genocidal Indigenous schools and climate change's lethal and disproportionate impact on communities of color. [Read Now ⟶](https://www.usnewsbeat.com/blog/climate-change-lethal-impact-minority-communities-indigenous-death-schools) ### Never Miss an Episode! No spam here! Get notified when our next episode drops. Subscribe to our Substack to receive new posts, episodes, stories, and more! [![Red Badge with fist holding microphone and text - Join the News Beat Family](https://www.usnewsbeat.com/hubfs/Streaming%20Platform%20Badges/Red%20Badge%20with%20fist%20holding%20microphone%20and%20text%20-%20Join%20the%20News%20Beat%20Family.png?noresize)](https://newsbeat.substack.com/) [![Apple Podcasts logo](https://www.usnewsbeat.com/hubfs/Streaming%20Platform%20Badges/NewsBeat_StreamingBadges_ApplePodcasts.png)](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/news-beat/id1195709241?mt=2) [![Spotify logo](https://www.usnewsbeat.com/hubfs/Streaming%20Platform%20Badges/NewsBeat_StreamingBadges_Spotify.png)](https://open.spotify.com/show/4SSoTm2exeDPvx6qtPFi6P) [![Google Podcasts Logo](https://www.usnewsbeat.com/hubfs/Streaming%20Platform%20Badges/NewsBeat_StreamingBadges_GooglePodcasts.png)](https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cub21ueWNvbnRlbnQuY29tL2QvcGxheWxpc3QvZWQxYzQ1NjctNGEyYS00ZDhiLTg2MmYtYWI2MDAwMDNkNTMwLzI0ZTk1ZTVkLTIwNGEtNGJkZi1iYmY4LWFiNmYwMTY3ODhmZi85YjIzNGRhYi0wNDQ5LTQ0MmMtOTIwMy1hYjZmMDE2Nzg5MDMvcG9kY2FzdC5yc3M) [![TuneIn logo](https://www.usnewsbeat.com/hubfs/Streaming%20Platform%20Badges/NewsBeat_StreamingBadges_TuneIn.png)](https://tunein.com/radio/News-Beat-p1088104/?topicId=119305249) [![RSS logo](https://www.usnewsbeat.com/hubfs/Streaming%20Platform%20Badges/NewsBeat_StreamingBadges_RSS.png)](https://link.chtbl.com/newsbeat) 575 Underhill Blvd., Suite 216, Syosset, NY 11791 © 2026 News Beat Podcast [**](https://www.facebook.com/US-News-Beat-1682338985394963/) [**](https://www.twitter.com/usnewsbeat) [**](https://link.chtbl.com/newsbeat) [**](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcME0Y2Tjow7dGRGjqgK8rQ/) [**](https://www.instagram.com/usnewsbeat) [**](https://soundcloud.com/moreypublishingstudios)