Stories from Muslims who turned away from extremism

**glo** · 11-17-2009

A long article from yesterday's Independent - but interesting nonetheless.
It tells the stories of Usama Hassan, Maajid Nawaz and Ed Husain who turned away from extremism, and of Anjem Choudhary who hasn't.

A year ago, I began to hear about a fragile new movement that could just hold the answers we journalists have failed to find up to now. A wave of young British Islamists who trained to fight – who cheered as their friends bombed this country – have recanted. Now they are using everything they learned on the inside, to stop the jihad.

Seventeen former radical Islamists have "come out" in the past 12 months and have begun to fight back. Would they be able to tell me the reasons that pulled them into jihadism, and out again? Could they be the key to understanding – and defusing – Western jihadism? I have spent three months exploring their world and befriending their leading figures. Their story sprawls from forgotten English seaside towns to the jails of Egypt's dictatorship and the icy mountains of Afghanistan – and back again.

Full article here.

**MSalman** · 11-19-2009

Originally Posted by glo

Reading the views overall, it seems that most people (Muslims and non-Muslims) view these guys' decision to turn away from extremism as positive.

I think that is just you glo because before we reach some sort of conclusion, certain terms need to be defined because there is a disagreement of their definition and implication among us: your view it differently and we view it differently. What do you mean by extremism? What kind of extremism are we talking about here? Is it jihad itself or blowing off non-combatants?

**S_87** · 11-19-2009

extremism is one thing but these guys did a total 180 and are sell outs-and thats putting it nicely

**glo** · 11-19-2009

Originally Posted by islamiclife

What do you mean by extremism? What kind of extremism are we talking about here? Is it jihad itself or blowing off non-combatants?

By extremism I personally mean the extreme view of generally perceiving non-Muslims as enemies, and preparing, training for and carrying out the killing of those enemies - whether they are young or old, male or female, innocent or guilty ...

I have no problem per se with the concept of jihad - which I perceive to similar to the spiritual struggle as described in the Bible:

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
(Ephesians 6:12)

In my mind jihad has nothing to do with actual physical force or aggression - except perhaps in very clear cases of immediate self-defense.

(Just my personal opinion, of course, as requested by islamiclife)

**Pygoscelis** · 11-19-2009

I think a new word could be helpful here. "Extremist muslim" seems to imply that islam if followed to the extreme requires violence and destruction towards other cultures. If that is not so, then we shouldn't be calling these people extreme muslims. Perhaps "Corrupted muslims" or would be better? I would suggest "wayward muslims" but that could also include anybody who turns from Islam (which wouldn't necesarily mean they've become violent)

**aamirsaab** · 11-19-2009

Originally Posted by Pygoscelis

I think a new word could be helpful here. "Extremist muslim" seems to imply that islam if followed to the extreme requires violence and destruction towards other cultures. If that is not so, then we shouldn't be calling these people extreme muslims. Perhaps "Corrupted muslims" or would be better? I would suggest "wayward muslims" but that could also include anybody who turns from Islam (which wouldn't necesarily mean they've become violent)

Prats, retards, a-holes, mofos, pindoos, fatheads, idiotas, smelly smelly poo poo heads?

Call them anything you like, just don't mention Islam or muslims.

**Uthman** · 11-19-2009

Originally Posted by Pygoscelis

I think a new word could be helpful here. "Extremist muslim" seems to imply that islam if followed to the extreme requires violence and destruction towards other cultures. If that is not so, then we shouldn't be calling these people extreme muslims. Perhaps "Corrupted muslims" or would be better? I would suggest "wayward muslims" but that could also include anybody who turns from Islam (which wouldn't necesarily mean they've become violent)

I agree that the term "extremist Muslim" isn't accurate. An accurate term would need to convey the idea of Muslims who are not acting in accordance with Islamic teachings.

**Nσσя'υℓ Jαииαн** · 11-19-2009

Originally Posted by aamirsaab

Prats, retards, a-holes, mofos, pindoos, fatheads, idiotas, smelly smelly poo poo heads?

Call them anything you like, just don't mention Islam or muslims.

My thoughts exactly. Hence my earlier post...

**Pygoscelis** · 11-20-2009

Originally Posted by aamirsaab

Prats, retards, a-holes, mofos, pindoos, fatheads, idiotas, smelly smelly poo poo heads?

Call them anything you like, just don't mention Islam or muslims.

If they are horrible people doing horrible things and just happen to also be muslims, then I'd agree. But if they say that they are doing what they are doing in the name of Islam, you kind of can't leave that out and have the whole picture.