Maajid Nawaz is a British activist, author, and radio host. He is known for his work promoting secularism, democracy, and human rights, particularly in Muslim-majority countries.
Nawaz was born in the UK to a British mother and a Pakistani father, and he grew up in a Muslim household. As a young man, he became involved in Islamic extremism and joined the Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir. He spent four years in an Egyptian prison after being arrested on terrorism charges in 2001, but later renounced his extremist views and became an advocate for moderate Islam.
In 2007, Nawaz co-founded the think tank Quilliam, which works to combat extremism and promote pluralism and human rights. He has also written several books, including “Radical: My Journey Out Of Islamist Extremism” and “Islam and the Future of Tolerance: A Dialogue,” which he co-wrote with atheist philosopher Sam Harris.
Nawaz is a frequent commentator on issues related to Islam, extremism, and human rights, and he hosts a weekly radio show on LBC, a popular British talk radio station. He has received numerous awards for his advocacy work, including the 2018 Penn Award for International Human Rights.
Overall, Maajid Nawaz is an important voice in the ongoing discussions about Islam, extremism, and human rights. His personal journey from extremism to moderation has provided valuable insights into the root causes of extremism and the importance of promoting pluralism and tolerance.
