Detainee 001 is a documentary film that explores the complex and controversial case of John Walker Lindh, an American citizen who joined the Taliban in Afghanistan shortly before the September 11 attacks. The film provides a detailed account of Lindh's journey from his unconventional upbringing in California to his radicalization as a Muslim convert and his eventual involvement with the Taliban.
Through interviews with Lindh's family members, military personnel, government officials, and experts in radicalization and terrorism, the film examines the factors that led him to embrace a worldview that put him at odds with his own country. It delves into Lindh's ideological motivations, his experiences in religious education, and his interactions with different extremist groups, including Al Qaeda.
Detainee 001 also focuses on the legal and ethical issues surrounding Lindh's detainment by US forces in Afghanistan and his subsequent imprisonment in the United States. The film raises questions about the legality of his interrogation and detention, as well as broader issues related to due process, human rights, and the treatment of detainees in the context of the global war on terror.
With its thoughtful and thought-provoking analysis of a complex and controversial case, Detainee 001 offers a nuanced picture of one man's journey towards extremism, and sheds light on the complex geopolitical and ideological forces that continue to shape our world today.