5 July 2012

Radical – My Journey from Islamist Extremism to A Democratic Awakening is the story of a British-Pakistani born and raised in Essex, Maajid Nawaz, who was recruited into Islamism as a teenager. Abandoning his love of hip hop culture, he joined Hizb al-Tahrir, where he played a central role in the shaping and dissemination of an aggressive anti-West narrative, which included the creation of new international cells and the encouragement of military coups.

Arriving in Egypt the day before 9/11 to study as part of his Arabic and law degree, his Islamist views soon led to his arrest and incarceration. Whilst mixing with everyone from Sadat’s assassins to Liberal reformists, an intellectual transformation occurred and Amnesty International adopted him as a Prisoner of Conscience.  Upon his release, Maajid renounced political Islamism, while remaining a Muslim, and now travels the world educating and inspiring young people about democracy through both Quilliam and Khudi.

Praise for Radical:

‘Maajid Nawaz was thirty years my junior when I first encountered him in the Torah Prison. His story saddened but inspired me. His innocence and idealism sharply contrasted with the corruption and despotism of his captors. Through Maajid, my faith was renewed that a spring of freedom was bound to happen eventually, and so it did.” – Dr Sa’ad al-Dine Ibrahim, Leading Egyptian political reformer and Mubarak-era political prisoner

“Imagine Homeland crossed with Skins, and you will get some idea of what a gripping, revelatory book this is. Unputdownable.”  – Tom Holland, In The Shadow of the Sword, and the best-selling Rubicon: The Triumph and Tragedy of the Roman Republic

‘This book is the account of his redemptive journey – through innocence , biogotry, hardline radicalism and beyond – to a passionate advocacy of human rights and all that this can mean…I am moved beyond measure to read of the transformative effect of these letters on Maajid. It reminds me again of why I am proud to work for Amnesty International UK, whose members were so instrumental in enabling Maajid to reconnect with life and humanity.’ Kate Allen, Director, Amnesty International UK

Media Appearances

Radical has featured in The Times Magazine and in an exclusive interview with Maajid in The Sunday Times. Further media appearances include on BBC Radio Four Start the Week, BBC World Service,  and BBC Asian Network alongside launch events at the Frontline Club, London on Wednesday 11^th July, 7pm and Google UK.

For further information go to www.maajidnawaz.com or follow Maajid on twitter @maajidnawaz
Radical is released by WH Allen, an imprint of Ebury Publishing at Random House, and can be ordered here