Twenty-five years after Yusuf Abdurahman left Somalia as a refugee to begin his new life in Minnesota, he realized his worst fear. In April 2015, Abdurahman’s 19-year-old-son Zacharia was arrested in an FBI counterterrorism sting operation and sentenced to ten years in jail, leaving an anguished Yusuf wondering how and why his son would leave his American life behind to attempt to join the Islamic State (ISIS) in Syria.
Through interviews with Yusuf, his daughter Ikraan, and others, Independent Lens: Accept the Call explores racism and prejudice against immigrants, the rise of targeted recruitment by radicalized groups, and the struggles of Muslim youth growing up in the U.S. today. Capturing the phone conversations between Yusuf and Zacharia, this intimate film follows the story of a father and son attempting to mend their relationship, showing how a parent’s worry for their child is a universal predisposition.
Independent Lens: Accept the Call airs Monday, March 21 at 9 p.m. on WSBE Rhode Island PBS.
WSBE Rhode Island PBS transmits high-definition (HD) programming over the air on digital 36.1; Cox 08 / 1008HD, Verizon FiOS 08 / 508HD, and Full Channel 08; Comcast 819HD and Verizon FiOS 18 / 518HD; DirecTV 36, Dish Network 36. Live stream the full schedule within the broadcast viewing area at watch.ripbs.org/livestream.
