Violent jihad is not permissible says Muslim scholar
The idea of jihad has been hijacked, perverted and turned into terrorism by fascistic Islamists says Manwar Ali in his TEDxExeter talk Inside the mind of a former radical Jihadist.
His is one of the very few TEDx talks to be chosen to feature on www.TED.com. The talk, which has been watched by nearly 7,000 people since it went online in May, will now reach a global audience, and could reach millions of new viewers.
In his moving, personal talk Manwar Ali reflects on his own experience of radicalisation and violent Jihad and makes a powerful and direct appeal to anyone drawn to Islamist groups who claim that their violence and brutality are Jihad that it is time to reclaim true Jihad, now.
He says in his talk: “I thought violent Jihad was noble, chivalrous, and the best way to help. At a time when so many of our young people are at risk of radicalisation by groups like IS, AQ and others, when those groups are claiming that their horrific violence and brutality are true jihad - I want to say - their idea of jihad is wrong. Totally wrong. As was mine, then.
He believes that “there are no circumstances on earth today in which violent jihad is permissible, because it will lead to greater harm”.
“I am absolutely delighted that my talk has been chosen for www.TED.com,” says Manwar Ali. “I am forever grateful to everyone responsible for making this happen. I am thrilled that a much wider audience will benefit from my humble admissions.
“It is vital for us to understand the poison of the ideology of Islamism which is necessarily supremacist and do our best to protect and cure humanity from its pernicious effects on the hearts for peace, compassion and understanding. For it to be hosted on TED.com is simply a dream come true.”
TEDxExeter organiser and licensee Claire Kennedy adds: “At a time when stories of young people being recruited to violent jihad overseas are regularly in the headlines, this talk is very timely. We are delighted that Manwar’s wise and thought-provoking words will reach a global audience.
“Ideas generated here at TEDxExeter are inspiring and impacting people in incredible ways. Our audience gets bigger and bigger each year, both the audience watching our event live on the day and through the livestream, and those who watch our talks on line afterwards. Having more talks on TED.com will increase the reach and impact of our speakers’ ideas even more.”
Manwar Ali, who is also known as Abu Muntasir, has more than 30 years experience teaching Islam and is one of the few scholars in the UK who has been directly involved in jihad. He was a committed pioneer of jihadism in the UK who fought in Afghanistan, Kashmir and Burma. Manwar is also a specialist interventions provider for the Home Office’s Office of Security and Counter Terrorism working with people who are at risk of radicalisation and people convicted of terrorism.
He is chief executive of Muslim educational charity JIMAS. He is chaplain for University Campus Suffolk, Suffolk New College, and the Ipswich Hospital; a member of the Local Scrutiny & Involvement Panel for the Crown Prosecution Service in East England; a member of the Police Crime Panel for the Suffolk Police & Crime Commissioner; and a member of the Suffolk Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education.
TEDxExeter talks have been viewed more than 6.7 million times and four have already been featured on TED.com. Karima Bennoune shares stories of real people fighting against fundamentalism in their own communities; Scilla Elworthy speaks on non violence; Bandi Mbubi calls for fair trade phones; and slam poet Harry Baker wins over audiences with his love poem for lonely prime numbers.
In addition, two of the nine talks on TED.com’s Road to Peace playlist are from TEDxExeter, TED’s Talks to Restore your Faith in Humanity playlist contains a talk from TEDxExeter, and Michelle Ryan’s 2015 talk tops the TEDx YouTube playlist on The Way we Work.
