Michael Moynihan

A 21-year-old al-Jilani left Syria for Iraq in 2003 to join al-Qaeda and fight against America. There, he was captured by the U.S. and put into Bukha Jail, which housed some of the most notorious al-Qaeda prisoners. But since emerging on the world stage in the last week, Jelani has indicated that he's a reformed man, leading a moderated organization.

A 21-year-old al-Jilani left Syria for Iraq in 2003 to join al-Qaeda and fight against America. There, he was captured by the U.S. and put into Bukha Jail, which housed some of the most notorious al-Qaeda prisoners. But since emerging on the world stage in the last week, Jelani has indicated that he's a reformed man, leading a moderated organization.

A 21-year-old al-Jilani left Syria for Iraq in 2003 to join al-Qaeda and fight against America. There, he was captured by the U.S. and put into Bukha Jail, which housed some of the most notorious al-Qaeda prisoners. But since emerging on the world stage in the last week, Jelani has indicated that he's a reformed man, leading a moderated organization.

He insists his al-Qaeda days and their methods — the detentions and torture and forced conversions — are over, and HTS is not going to persecute religious and ethnic minorities. But is it true? Few people in the West might know the answer, as well as journalist Theo Padnos.

He insists his al-Qaeda days and their methods — the detentions and torture and forced conversions — are over, and HTS is not going to persecute religious and ethnic minorities. But is it true? Few people in the West might know the answer, as well as journalist Theo Padnos.

He insists his al-Qaeda days and their methods — the detentions and torture and forced conversions — are over, and HTS is not going to persecute religious and ethnic minorities. But is it true? Few people in the West might know the answer, as well as journalist Theo Padnos.

In October 2012, Padnos ventured from Turkey into Syria to report on the Syrian civil war. There, he was captured by HTS, then known as Jabhat al-Nusra, and held captive for nearly two years. Throughout his captivity, Padnos endured relentless torture at the hands of his captors.

In October 2012, Padnos ventured from Turkey into Syria to report on the Syrian civil war. There, he was captured by HTS, then known as Jabhat al-Nusra, and held captive for nearly two years. Throughout his captivity, Padnos endured relentless torture at the hands of his captors.

In October 2012, Padnos ventured from Turkey into Syria to report on the Syrian civil war. There, he was captured by HTS, then known as Jabhat al-Nusra, and held captive for nearly two years. Throughout his captivity, Padnos endured relentless torture at the hands of his captors.

He was savagely beaten into unconscious, given electric shocks, and forced into severe stress positions for hours at a time. That is to say, nothing of the psychological torment inflicted upon him. Today, he joins me to discuss his herring experience, the psychology of jihadists, and what the future of Syria will look like under the leadership of his former captors. We'll be right back.

He was savagely beaten into unconscious, given electric shocks, and forced into severe stress positions for hours at a time. That is to say, nothing of the psychological torment inflicted upon him. Today, he joins me to discuss his herring experience, the psychology of jihadists, and what the future of Syria will look like under the leadership of his former captors. We'll be right back.

He was savagely beaten into unconscious, given electric shocks, and forced into severe stress positions for hours at a time. That is to say, nothing of the psychological torment inflicted upon him. Today, he joins me to discuss his herring experience, the psychology of jihadists, and what the future of Syria will look like under the leadership of his former captors. We'll be right back.

Theo Padnos, welcome to Honestly. Thank you very much for having me. You were a captive of Jabhat al-Nusra, a Al-Qaeda affiliate, and you were released in 2014. Pretty soon after you got back, I met up with you. That was 10 years ago. What is your life like now?

Theo Padnos, welcome to Honestly. Thank you very much for having me. You were a captive of Jabhat al-Nusra, a Al-Qaeda affiliate, and you were released in 2014. Pretty soon after you got back, I met up with you. That was 10 years ago. What is your life like now?

Theo Padnos, welcome to Honestly. Thank you very much for having me. You were a captive of Jabhat al-Nusra, a Al-Qaeda affiliate, and you were released in 2014. Pretty soon after you got back, I met up with you. That was 10 years ago. What is your life like now?

I mean, the interesting thing now is that people are watching, I'm reluctant to call it the liberation of Syria, but I mean, getting rid of Bashar al-Assad is a liberation. Regardless of who does it, we'll see what happens. But the people who are doing the liberating. are the same people that held you captive.

I mean, the interesting thing now is that people are watching, I'm reluctant to call it the liberation of Syria, but I mean, getting rid of Bashar al-Assad is a liberation. Regardless of who does it, we'll see what happens. But the people who are doing the liberating. are the same people that held you captive.

I mean, the interesting thing now is that people are watching, I'm reluctant to call it the liberation of Syria, but I mean, getting rid of Bashar al-Assad is a liberation. Regardless of who does it, we'll see what happens. But the people who are doing the liberating. are the same people that held you captive.

You've actually seen on video people in Damascus who are now in control of Syria that held you and tortured you.

You've actually seen on video people in Damascus who are now in control of Syria that held you and tortured you.