Among the Believers (2015) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

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1. 1

   Aziz's jihad begins against the Pakistani state

   Cleric Abdul Aziz Ghazi launches his campaign to impose a strict version of Sharia law as a model for the world. The narrative frames his struggle as a holy war within Pakistan, setting the stage for a long confrontation between militancy and state authority. His ambitions ignite the central conflict explored in the film.

   When

   Pre-2007

   Where

   Islamabad, Pakistan

2. 2

   Siege of the Red Mosque erupts in 2007

   A standoff with the Pakistani military culminates in the government leveling Aziz's flagship mosque, the Red Mosque. The assault results in the deaths of Aziz's mother, brother, his only son, and about 150 students. The siege marks a watershed moment in Pakistan's modern history, illustrating the violence of the conflict.

   When

   2007

   Where

   Red Mosque, Islamabad

3. 3

   Aziz's continued quest for an Islamic utopia

   In the aftermath, the filmmakers follow Aziz as he pursues a dream of an Islamic utopia within Pakistan. He pursues this vision amid ongoing violence and political instability during the bloodiest period of the country's modern history. The film suggests his crusade continues to shape events beyond the mosque.

   When

   2007-2014

   Where

   Pakistan

4. 4

   Talha begins path toward jihadi preaching

   Talha, then 12, detaches from his previously moderate family life and gravitates toward extremist teachings. He enrolls in madrasas run by Aziz's network and begins shaping himself into a jihadi preacher. His trajectory mirrors the film's exploration of how youths are drawn into militancy.

   When

   Late 2000s

   Where

   Red Mosque network / Madrasa system

5. 5

   Zarina escapes madrasa and enters regular school

   Zarina, also 12, escapes the madrasa and joins a regular school, seeking normalcy amid rising insecurity. Her path contrasts with Talha's and highlights the gendered impact of extremism on education. The narrative follows her struggle to pursue schooling in a dangerous environment.

   When

   Late 2000s

   Where

   Pakistan

6. 6

   Talha's radicalization deepens over the years

   Over the next years, Talha's path deepens as he embraces extremist rhetoric and begins preaching. The film tracks his transformation within the madrasa ecosystem and how radical ideas are transmitted to impressionable youths. The arc shows how mentorship and peer influence can propel someone toward violence.

   When

   Late 2000s to early 2010s

   Where

   Madrasa network

7. 7

   Zarina's education threatened by Taliban violence

   Zarina's schooling remains under threat as Taliban attacks on schools intensify, disrupting her education and the efforts to provide girls with learning opportunities. The violence underscores the personal costs of extremism on ordinary families. The film uses her experience to show broader societal impact.

   When

   Early 2010s

   Where

   Pakistan (schools targeted by Taliban)

8. 8

   Dr. Pervez Hoodbhoy emerges as Aziz's foil

   Dr. Pervez Hoodbhoy, a nuclear physicist and educational activist, becomes the film's counterpoint to Aziz. He opposes Aziz through public appearances, lectures, and media, advocating secular and pluralist education. His stance places him at the center of Pakistan's intellectual resistance to extremism.

   When

   Throughout the period

   Where

   Pakistan (public sphere)

9. 9

   Tension builds toward December 2014

   Opposition to Aziz intensifies as debates over his influence grow louder in the public sphere. The film shows a national struggle that culminates in a call for accountability and reform. The pressure builds toward a decisive moment a decade after the siege.

   When

   Pre-December 2014

   Where

   Pakistan

10. 10

    December 2014 Peshawar school massacre

    Taliban militants massacre 132 school children and staff in Peshawar during a brutal siege. Aziz's controversial justification of violence fuels public outrage, strengthening calls for reform. The attack becomes a catalyst for a nationwide push to end extremism in mosques and madrasas.

    When

    December 2014

    Where

    Peshawar, Pakistan

11. 11

    Moderate majority mobilizes against extremism

    Led by Hoodbhoy and other moderates, a nationwide movement forms to end extremism in religious institutions. The public and civil society demand accountability and systemic change, including the arrest of extremist figures. The momentum signals a turning point in Pakistan's approach to mosques and madrasas.

    When

    Post-December 2014

    Where

    Pakistan

12. 12

    Film closes on the struggle for reform

    The documentary juxtaposes Aziz's ongoing ambitions with Hoodbhoy's principled opposition, framing the struggle as a long-term conflict between radical dreams and enlightened resistance. It notes how the Peshawar tragedy reshaped public will and policy toward religious extremism. The story remains centered on the tensions within Pakistani society.

    When

    2014-2015

    Where

    Pakistan