 First edition book cover | |
| Author | Maajid Nawaz |
|---|---|
| Original title | Radical: My Journey from Islamist Extremism to a Democratic Awakening |
| Language | English |
| Subject | Islamism,extremism |
| Genre | Autobiography |
| Publisher | WH Allen[1] |
Publication date | 5 July 2012 |
| Media type | Print (hardcover,paperback) |
| Pages | 296 pp |
| ISBN | 9780753540770[2] |
Radical: My Journey out of Islamist Extremism is a 2012memoir by the British activistMaajid Nawaz, who is also a formerIslamist. First published in the United Kingdom, the book describes Nawaz's journey "from Muslim extremist to taking tea atNumber 10". The United States edition contains a preface for American readers and a new, updated epilogue.[3]
Radical was described byThe Daily Telegraph as a "horrifying reflection on modern Britain".[4] It was entered for the 2013Orwell Prize for political writing of outstanding quality.[5] The book has been translated into thePortuguese language and published by Texto.[6] In 2015, the author announced on Twitter that the book was being translated into theArabic language.[7]
Born and raised inEssex, England, Nawaz found expression of his rebellious impulses in early life inhip hop,graffiti, and relationships with girls. A crisis of identity and news of a massacre of Muslims inBosnia led him toward radicalIslamist groupHizb ut-Tahrir, which translates as "The Liberation Party". He rose through the ranks of the organisation, and became a rabble-rousing speaker and international recruiter.[8]
Nawaz travelled around the United Kingdom setting up cells and taking part in organisation of the party. While studying Arab inEgypt, he, along with other friends, was arrested byHosni Mubarak's secret police. There, he faced a five-year prison term, mental torture and solitary confinement. Mixing with different stripes of religious andliberal Muslims, Nawaz underwent an intellectual transformation. There, he sat with Islamists,jihadists, assassins ofAnwar Sadat, leaders ofMuslim Brotherhood andHizb ut Tahrir, liberal Muslims, men convicted forhomosexuality, andMuslims convicted for leaving Islam.[9]
On his release, Nawaz publicly renounced Islamist ideology and devoted his life to countering the Islamist view of the world. This move cost him his marriage, and fellow activists abandoned him. Other sacrifices include estrangement from his family and his friends, and loss of personal security.[8] He built a network of supporters and colleagues, and started a foundation, namedQuilliam, to challenge the rising tide of Islamism worldwide. He makes use of recruitment tactics that he once used inHizb ut Tahrir to reverse extremism.[10]
Former British prime ministerTony Blair described it as "a book for our times", and said that such a book could only be written by someone who has lived the experience of going in and out of extremism.[11]Tina Brown, editor-in-chief ofNewsweek, termed it one of the essential books to understanding the path to radicalism. According toEd Husain, a former Islamist and co-founder of Quilliam, this book is more powerful thancivilian casualties from United States drone strikes because it helps to suppress the ideas on whichterrorism is built.[11] According toKate Allen, the director of British section ofAmnesty International, the book charts a redemptive journey from innocence, to bigotry, to radicalism, and back.[11] HistorianTom Holland admired the book and termed it to be a cross betweenHomeland andSkins.[11]
About the book,The Daily Telegraph wrote: "Because of its violent, continent-crossing story, this book seems quite out of the ordinary, but in its underlying tone, I find it reassuringly familiar."[4] In its review, theNew Humanist wrote: "Nawaz's book is very much a companion piece toEd Husain'sThe Islamist (which was published in 2007), in that it is a much-needed insider’s account ofIslamic extremism and, as such, it merits the description of "essential reading" for anyone seeking to understand what motivates bright, educated young men to embrace thefascist ideology of Islamism."[12] About the author,The Indian Express wrote: "What a life, what a compelling storyteller. In parts you'll need to remind yourself that what reads like an engrossing, fast-paced, action-packedthriller, a piece offiction, is in fact a real-life account."[13]
In a critical review, the American online magazineInternational Policy Digest said thatRadical is a "mesmerizing tale of personal struggle" but "does remarkably little to sufficiently articulate a comprehensive remedy to the problem" of Islamism that Nawaz described.[14] Additionally, the review mentioned how the United States version ofRadical is devoid of any serious discussion of the roleUnited States foreign policy might have played in fanning Islamist extremism.[14]
In August 2012, Nawaz presented his story at theEdinburgh International Book Festival.[15] In May 2015, he talked about his journey out of Islamist extremism at theWorld Affairs Councils of America in Houston.[16][17] That same month, he talked to Oliver Bullough at theHay Festival about radical extremism.[18] In July 2015, Nawaz discussed at theAspen Ideas Festival about his transformation from Essex boy into an Islamist.[19]
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