Quotes from Maajid Nawaz

Back when I was an Islamist, I thought our ideology was like communism - and I still do. That makes me optimistic. Because what happened to communism? It was discredited as an idea. It lost.

Islamism is an ideology that seeks to impose any version of Islam over society.

Being veterans of the struggle to push back against fundamentalist Christians, American liberals are well acquainted with the pitfalls of the neoconservative flirtation with the religious-right.

The cheeky ideal I am calling for is that Muslims should be viewed as equal citizens, nothing more and nothing less.

For my own part, once I became a teenager, I experienced severe and violent racism.

In an open society, no idea can be above scrutiny, just as no people should be beneath dignity.

Islamism is not Islam. Islamism is the politicisation of Islam, the desire to impose a version of this ancient faith over society.

There are members - very, very close and dear members - of my family - I'm talking immediate family - who simply don't speak to me anymore and haven't done so for years. My marriage fell apart.

Does freedom of speech give the right to offend?