Ex-Jihadist On Hardtalk

[vetuste_ennemi]

...British educated Indian Muslim Ed Husein from conventional, but easy-going Sunni background..being interviewed by Zainab Badawi.

He explains his own radicalisation by stuff he read as a sixteen year old in England which taught him that all Muslims have a "religious obligation" to promote the political supremacy of Islam. He also asserts that this political jihad is a false interpretation of Islam. I've only just started watching, but I'm looking forward to his development of the latter point.

So - one of the most pressing issues of our time. Recommend the program (you can see it on iPlayer).

This should be both interesting and educational to both those like Ms Badawi who know only the orthodox ("nothing to do with Islam") line, and those like me who think that the political agenda is inextricably bundled with the faith.

[KARL]

I heard the interview and admire his readiness to encourage navel gazing within the Muslim flock. Also his metaphor that the House of Islam is on fire echoes the view I support to the effect that out of what is currently going on will come a sort of Reformation of Islam. It will not be of revulsion of the sale of plots in Heaven and general material/gold greed (as in the case of the Catholic Church) but sound rejection of a tendency toward violent expression of a form of religious elitism/prejudice (holier than thou, certainly holier than infidel scum - plots in Paradise). The current problem is that the overwhelming majority of "average" Muslims operate on the widely felt sense that you do not "contradict a man of God" (much like we know the taboo versus "your elders"), i.e. the extremists lay claim to being "correct" and who are the rest to suggest they reign in their fervour. If you have ever lived among Muslims you very soon sense this - it is everywhere in public, but in private it is a different matter. The hotheads intimidate the public, and on occasion radicalise individuals. This fetter will dissolve but only when there are more people like Ed Husein speaking their mind and the flavour of public Muslim discourse changes.

[vetuste_ennemi]

Thanks for your comments, Karl. You're implying that you've lived in a Muslim country.

If so can you give us (well, me at least) more details of that experience?

[vetuste_ennemi]

Disappointing for me because Mr Husein didn't get round to explaining his non-political version of Islam. In fairness, though, it was only an half hour interview.

I hope that lots of non-Islamophobes watched it, however.

Ms Badawi is obviously the result of affirmative action. Thirty IQ points at least adrift of the excellent Stephen Sackur. Seems to be modelling herself intentionally or otherwise on Cathy Newman, but won't make it on account of (1) she's not as bright as Cathy and (2) not as nasty. I give the lady credit for (2).

I'd love to hear reactions to the program from other AB members. It's just the kind of program intelligent people who know what's going on and want to understand the "whys" should be watching.