Risking Your Life To Escape A Violent Extremist Past

Filmmaker Karen Winther still struggles with the Neo-Nazi ghost of her past. How could she become part of such a hateful cult?

She sets out to meet other former extremists and ask why they also put the violence behind them.

She meets high-profile Ex Neo-Nazis such as Ingo Hasselbach, the former ‘Fuhrer of Berlin’, who still receives death threats from fascists nearly 20 years on. She also meets Manuel, living in hiding with his four year-old daughter, and learns that he finds it hard to look people in the eye ever since he kicked a pregnant woman in the stomach. Karen also meets an ex-jihadist and a former member of the far-right in the US.

‘EXIT - Leaving Extremism Behind’ is a rare and important perspective on a growing problem in Western societies. Instead of exploiting shock value, the film seeks to better understand the psychology of radicalisation and, most importantly, how to break its cycle.

For many of the people she meets, it was a simple act of kindness that shattered their extremist delusion. A valuable lesson on how to combat violent ideology in our communities.

‘EXIT - Leaving Extremism Behind’ is available to watch for free on AJ Witness until July 10th 2020.