0/5

Insight: April 25

How do you break free from a cycle of crime, violence or disadvantage?

This week on Insight Jenny Brockie asks, “How do you break free from a cycle of crime, violence or disadvantage?”

From the high ranks of bikie gangs to serious drug felonies on the streets of Cabramatta, how do you turn your life around when violence and crime are the norm?

Do circumstances dictate our path in life or can effort and freewill change it?

Physically abused as a child, Brent was 12 years old when he ended up living on the streets and getting involved with crime. As the seriousness of his crimes escalated, he joined a bikie gang, finding comfort in its camaraderie. While spending time in a maximum security prison, a warning from his son would make him take a hard look at his life.

Born in Australia to refugee parents who didn’t speak any English, Tony had trouble communicating with them and lacked direction in life. At 14 and already a member of a drug gang, Tony was hooked on heroin, selling drugs and had a number of offences on his record. It would take him a near death experience to lead him to his faith and ultimately, help him turn his life around.

Zak was very young when his father, El Sayyid Nosair, was sent to prison for his involvement in the assassination of Meir Kahane, an ultra-Orthodox Rabbi who had founded Jewish Defence League. Three years later, Zak was shaken to his core when he found out his father also helped plot the 1993 World Trade Centre bombing from his prison cell.

Zak had to reassess his belief system passed on from his father and make a conscious effort to change his worldview. Today he speaks out as someone raised by an extremist but who chose the path of nonviolence.

This week, Insight hears inspiring stories of people who have broken free from a cycle of disadvantage, violence, crime.

8:30pm Tuesday on SBS.

Leave a Reply