The life and heroic sacrifice of Noor Inayat Khan, a Muslim pacifist and British agent, is explored in a new film, ‘A Call to Spy’. Fiona Keating reports
Shy, scared of guns – and fearless. The film tells the story of Khan, an SOE agent (special operations executive) and one of the first female wireless operators sent from the UK into occupied France during World War Two.
Juliette Pattinson, Professor of Modern History at the University of Kent, spoke to Britain at War, describing A Call to Spy as “action packed” and adding: “It was great to see a film with three women protagonists. Most people will really enjoy the film as it’s a very good depiction of the SOE, which features Vera Atkins, Virginia Hall and Noor Inayat Khan.”
It is Khan, a Muslim pacifist, who intrigues the most. At first glance, she seems a poor candidate as a British agent, sent undercover to Paris, joining ‘F’ (France) Section of the SOE. During her security training at Beaulieu, Hampshire, the official historian of ‘F’ Section discovered her personal file many years after Khan’s death. Her finishing report read: “She has an unstable and temperamental personality and it is very doubtful whether she is really suited to work in the field.”
