<Tr> <Th> Original release </Th> <Td> 20 August (2017 - 08 - 20)--23 August 2017 (2017 - 08 - 23) </Td> </Tr> <P> The State is a four - part television serial written and directed by Peter Kosminsky, dramatising the experiences of young British Muslims going to Syria to join Islamic State . </P> <P> The series was broadcast in the UK by Channel 4 on successive nights between 20 and 23 August 2017, and shown worldwide by National Geographic, showing in Australia from 23 August, and premiering in the United States on 18 and 19 September, In France it will also be shown by Canal+ from 4 September . </P> <Ul> <Li> Ony Uhiara as Shakira, a British doctor and single mother . </Li> <Li> Sam Otto as Jalal, a Londoner following his dead elder brother to Syria, wanting to understand what he had experienced . </Li> <Li> Shavani Cameron as Ushna, a teenager seeking to be a "lioness for lions". </Li> <Li> Ryan McKen as Ziyad, Jalal's closest friend, accompanying him and hoping for adventure . </Li> <Li> Hiam Abbass as Umm Salamah </Li> <Li> Jessica Gunning as Umm Walid </Li> <Li> Yasen Atour as Abu Issa </Li> <Li> Ali Suliman as Abu Omar, Jalal and Ziyad's commander </Li> <Li> Amir El - Masry as Sayed, a Syrian pharmacist who has remained in Raqqah </Li> <Li> Haaz Sleiman as Dr Rabia, a Syrian doctor in the hospital </Li> <Li> Fayez Bakhsh as Abu Jihad Al - Brittani, best friend of Jalal's deceased older brother </Li> <Li> Nitin Ganatra as Jalal's father . </Li> <Li> Karim Kassem as Abu Akram, an Egyptian jihadist </Li> </Ul>

When does the tv series the state start