In 1993, Simon and Kai were abducted near the Iraqi border and wrongfully imprisoned in Saddam Hussein’s notorious Abu Ghraib prison. Tried as spies and sentenced to eight years, they joined six other Western hostages in a living nightmare of torture, isolation, and fear—held as pawns in a geopolitical game they didn’t understand.
Now, decades later, these men reunite for the first time. What begins as a long-overdue gathering becomes a profound and unfiltered exploration of trauma, identity, and resilience. With raw honesty, they revisit their experiences and the emotional aftermath—revealing the deep scars and surprising strength it takes to reclaim life after captivity.
The Freedom Within offers a rare glimpse inside one of the world’s most infamous prisons—but at its core, it is a story of redemption, brotherhood, and the transformative power of speaking one’s truth. In sharing their pain, these survivors find purpose—and hope to inspire others walking similar paths.
