Five Minarets in New York

Hadji Gümüş was arrested because Turkish authorities suspected he was Dajjal, a terrorist responsible for attacks in Turkey. He was taken into FBI custody during a prayer session at his New York home. Although he had no criminal history in the US, he sat on an Interpol wanted list, leading to his detention and potential extradition back to Turkey.

Earlier scenes establish Hadji as a respected scholar who fled Turkey after serving a murder sentence, making him a convenient suspect for Turkish authorities.

Firat targeted Hadji because he believed Hadji killed his father in the 1970s. This personal vendetta drove Firat to manipulate the investigation and guide the hunt toward Hadji, using his position as a Turkish anti-terror officer to pursue revenge rather than genuine justice.

The timeline hints at Firat's growing certainty about Hadji's guilt, which contrasts sharply with Acar's doubts and foreshadows the revelation of Firat's personal motive.

Firat used his position as a Turkish anti-terror officer to guide the investigation toward Hadji from the start. He shaped the case evidence and testimony to target Hadji, all while concealing his personal vendetta. His manipulation only came to light when the real terrorist leaders were captured in Turkey and the truth about his motivations was revealed.

Throughout the investigation, Firat's unwavering certainty about Hadji's guilt contrasts with Acar's growing doubts, hinting at something beyond professional obligation.

Hadji was cleared because the real terrorist leaders behind the attacks in Turkey were eventually captured. Once the actual perpetrators were identified, the investigation proved that Hadji had no connection to the Dajjal terrorist plot, leading to his release from custody.

The buildup of legal scrutiny and the Interpol investigation creates tension until the real terrorists are found, validating the supporters' belief in Hadji's innocence.

At Hadji's mother's home in Turkey, a tragic confrontation occurred. After being cleared and reunited with his mother, Hadji was fatally shot by Firat's grandfather. Acar then responded by killing Firat's grandfather in what was portrayed as a swift act of justice, leaving the film ending on themes of vengeance and its devastating costs.

The decision for Acar and Firat to accompany Hadji as an apology foreshadows the fateful journey to his mother's house where tragedy unfolds.

Firat's grandfather shot Hadji as an act of vengeance for what he believed was Hadji's killing of his son, Firat's father, back in the 1970s. The grandfather carried out this personal revenge even after Hadji had been officially cleared of all charges and was innocent in the eyes of the law.

The revelation about Firat's father's death and the family's long-held belief in Hadji's guilt plants the seed for this tragic final act.

Acar killed Firat's grandfather in immediate response to watching Hadji being fatally shot. It was a swift act of retaliation, killing the man who had just murdered an innocent, cleared man. The act underscores the film's theme that fear and vengeance create cycles of violence with irreversible consequences.

The build-up of tension throughout the film, particularly Acar's role as someone who values justice, sets up this moment of violent retaliation.

After Hadji was cleared, Acar and Firat chose to travel with him and Maria as a gesture of apology for the ordeal they had caused. Their decision to accompany Hadji was meant to represent reconciliation and accountability for wrongly pursuing an innocent man. This apology journey ultimately leads to the tragic confrontation at Hadji's mother's home.

The Turkish escorts' insistence on accompanying Hadji signals their desire for closure and redemption, setting the stage for the fatal reunion.

Dajjal is the Islamic name for a figure often associated with deception and evil, used here as a code name by Turkish authorities for a suspected terrorist. Turkish anti-terror agents Acar and Firat were dispatched to New York to locate Dajjal, believed to be responsible for terrorist attacks in Turkey. They suspected Hadji Gümüş was this person.

The initial mission briefing establishes Dajjal as a dangerous figure, setting the entire investigation in motion.

The film uses the post-9/11 climate to examine Islamophobia on both sides of the Atlantic. FBI Agent Becker's open hostility toward Muslims contrasts with Acar's criticism of this prejudice. The story questions whether innocence matters when vengeance and fear drive the pursuit of justice, showing how religious suspicion affects both law enforcement and the accused.

Early scenes of Hadji's arrest during prayer establish the theme of religious prejudice running through the entire narrative.

Marcus is an American friend and devout Muslim convert who stood by Hadji during his detention. Along with Hadji's Christian wife Maria, Marcus vouched for Hadji's character and innocence, organizing a support network of friends and family. His loyalty highlights the film themes of faith crossing religious boundaries and true friendship against prejudice.

Marcus's presence among Hadji's supporters emphasizes the human connection that contrasts with official suspicion.

Acar, fluent in English, became a vocal critic of FBI Senior Agent Becker, who displayed open hostility toward Muslims and Islam. Their conflict represented the broader tension between law enforcement approaches and the prejudice infecting the post-9/11 investigative process. Acar's criticism of Becker's behavior highlighted how fear could corrupt justice.

The tensions between Acar and Becker surface early, setting up the thematic clash between justice and prejudice.