(born in 1968 in Cracow) journalist, director of numerous documentaries, including Prawdziwy ojciec chrzestny (The real Godfather), The Smell of Paradise, Brüder des Jihad (Brothers of Jihad). Famous for his high-profile coverage from territories engulfed in conflict. He cooperated with many television channels both in Poland and abroad, inter alia, TVP, TVN, WDR, BBC, Channel 4. He prepared reports from Chechnya, and also shot a film entitled Chechnya. The Dirty War, for which he was banned from entering the Russian Federation

He directed films showing life and conflicts in the Arab countries of North Africa, Afghanistan, Somalia, the Congo, the Gaza Strip, Iraq, and the Caucasus, to name a few. Awarded with numerous prizes, including the award of the Association of Polish Journalists and the Grand Prix Award at the HumanDOC Documentary Film Festival. Distinguished with the Golden Cross of Merit by President Lech Kaczyński.

In 2007, his literary debut was published, Wojna braci (The War of Brothers), devoted to an informal company of militants who share common ideals. Jihadists, about whom Mamoń writes, call themselves brothers, even if they have never met in person. They do not know their names, at most only nicknames. They fight on different fronts, at different organisations, they speak different languages. Everyone is against them, but still they do not give up. In his book, Mamoń strives to find answers to the questions such as: who are the people who have become Jihadists, what are their aims, what is their world of values? He does it by acquainting the reader with the story of his own abduction and release by Al-Nusra Front, as well as bringing a first-hand account of the Syrian conflict, the crimes of the Al-Assad regime, and the rebels’ fight.

Marcin Mamoń has been exploring the topic of the Middle East and terrorism for over 20 years. He is the only Polish author who has managed to reach many important leaders of Islamic militants and make them talk about their activities.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

• Wojna braci, Wydawnictwo Literackie, Kraków 2017.