FORMER EXTREMIST: Abu Muntasir
Abu Muntasir fought as a jihadi in Afghanistan, Kashmir and Burma. He now works to prevent radicalisation and extremism
Abu Muntasir describes the belief system that kept him within the Islamist movement, including the sense of fighting for justice for oppressed Muslims. He began to develop a more nuanced sense of history, including losing his idealised version of Islamic history. He developed a greater understanding of the diversity of the Muslim world and its history. He sees Islamists as creating their own interpretations of holy texts and putting them in place of the true meaning of the faith. He stresses these beliefs have a powerful hold over young men, and points out other ways that Muslims can support other people across the world without using violence. Casting a critical eye over his choices as a young man, he advises young people to learn their religion and to find other ways to confront injustice.