WhatsappHe used to be a Muslim extremist, now he’s helping to stop them. The UN Watch recently honored Maajid Nawaz for his work. Find out more about this fascinating person right here.
Maajid Nawaz
Maajid Nawaz is one of the most interesting people you’ll ever meet. He was a Muslim extremist, but then went through an amazing transformation. Nawaz used to be a member of the Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir. He traveled around the United Kingdom setting up cells and taking part in organizing the extremist group.
Egypt Prison Time
While studying the Arabic language in Egypt, Maajid Nawaz, along with other extremists, were arrested by Hosni Mubarak’s secret police. They put him in jail for five years. As well, Nawaz also went through mental torture and solitary confinement. While in jail, he met with all sorts of Muslims. Religious and secular, radical and liberal, he met them all. Islamists, Jihadists, assassins of Anwar Sadat, leaders of Muslim Brotherhood and Hizb ut Tahrir, liberal Muslims and Muslims convicted for leaving Islam, Nawaz got to know them and their ideology. As a result of meeting different types of Muslims, and reading books about human rights, Nawaz came to a realization.
Seeing how wrong he was
Nawaz realized that he was wrong and Islamic extremism was wrong. Hence, he left Hizb-ut-Tahrir and called for a secular Islam. Additionally, he wrote a book about his experience. He even briefed U.S. presidents and successive British Prime Ministers on how best to combat extremism and make all our lives safer.
Islamic terrorists are launching more attacks around the world. That’s why it’s so important for former extremists to share their stories. They can raise awareness as they have inside knowledge. Hopefully, it will inspire Muslim extremists to abandon their radical views.
