GiftsDecember 11th through December 31st
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WHEN: Friday, Dec. 11 at noon
WHERE: Mercy Corps Action Center, Community Room, 28 SW First Ave, Portland, OR
Maajid Nawaz is a British scholar who experienced an extraordinary transformation. Formerly a leader of the UK branch of the extremist global Islamist political party Hizb ut-Tahrir, he now speaks out against Islamist ideology and in favor of traditional Islam and inclusive politics.
Nawaz is director and co-founder of Quilliam Foundation, an organization with a mission of "Challenging Extremism, Promoting Pluralism, Inspiring Change." Quilliam was created by former radical Islamic activists from various organizations including Ed Husain. Nawaz was involved with the global Islamist party Hizb ut-Tahrir for more than 13 years in the UK national leadership and as a founding member in Denmark and Pakistan. The goal of Hizb ut-Tahrir is to unite the entire Islamic world community into a single caliphate, ruled by Islamic doctrine. During his time in an Egyptian prison as an Amnesty International ‘prisoner of conscience," Maajid changed his views, eventually renouncing the Islamist ideology for traditional Islam and inclusive politics.
You are invited to hear Nawaz speak about his ideological reversal. He will address the roots of Islamism in Europe and the grave threat of extremism today. He’ll recount his experiences traveling to Pakistan and other countries in the Middle East and South Asia to speak to students, teachers and imams. Nawaz will suggest successful strategies for dealing with extremism and for building a more accepting view of traditional Islam.
"My journey from prison was not an easy one to make. After all, there were many reasons for why I should not leave, and very few for why I should. The one reason that I could not ignore, the one reason that grew deep inside me till it consumed me with guilt was the realisation that I was abusing my faith for a mere political project. After learning through my studies in prison that Islamism was not the religion of Islam, but rather a modern political ideology, I no longer felt guilty simply for criticising a political system inspired by 7th century norms." (See his personal account "Why Leave the Radicals?" on his foundation's website.)
Nawaz spends his time writing and lecturing. He holds a BA from the School of Oriental and African Studies (University of London) in Arabic and Law, and an MSc in Political Theory from the London School of Economics.
There will be time for questions following the talk. This is a noon-time event; you are welcome to bring your lunch.
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