“Why do they hate us?” This is a question that has often been asked since the September 11 attacks almost 15 years ago, and it’s a question being asked once again in light of the recent terror attacks in Boston, Brussels, Beirut, Paris, Mumbai, Fort Hood, and San Bernardino. CNN host Fareed Zakaria wrote about terrorism and rage in an October 2001 cover story for Newsweek, and he picks up where he left off in his new hour-long special Why They Hate Us, which premieres Monday, May 23 at 9 p.m. ET on CNN and CNN International.
“Every time we hear of another terror attack, we wonder what motivates these people,” Zakaria tells TVNewser. “I tried to answer these questions looking at religion history and politics.”
Zakaria challenges intelligence experts, religious scholars, policy influencers and violent jihadis – and manages to get rarely heard answers. “Since in some ways this is the central security question facing America, fundamental to even understanding some of the challenges facing the U.S. troops now heading to Syria to fight ISIS, I hope people watch,” Zakaria says.
During the broadcast, producers of Why They Hate Us will interact with viewers via Twitter, using the hashtag #WhyTheyHateUs with user questions and comments about the special.